Atiku Rejects Presidency Claim Over Oyo Pupils Rescue

Atiku Abubakar has rejected the Presidency’s claim that he stayed silent after the rescue of abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers, saying he had already welcomed the release and commended security agencies.

The exchange is the latest political fallout from the Oyo abduction case, after the Army explained how the pupils and teachers were freed in a development NaijaTrend reported here.

In a statement issued by his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s accusation was false and could be checked against his earlier public statement on the rescue.

Daily Post reported that Shaibu said Atiku’s earlier message welcomed the rescue, praised the Armed Forces and other security agencies, and called for efforts to secure Nigerians still in captivity.

Vanguard also reported that Atiku told the Presidency to read before attacking, describing the allegation against him as a distortion of what he had said after the victims regained freedom.

The former vice president’s camp said the Presidency either failed to verify publicly available information or ignored it. It also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s political activity during the period of the rescue.

The Presidency had earlier criticised Atiku over the Oyo rescue issue. Atiku’s response keeps the security incident inside the wider 2027 political argument, with both sides now trading claims over empathy, leadership and public accountability.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post