Public affairs commentator Igho Akeregha has challenged the Federal Government’s characterization of the recent return of abducted schoolchildren as a “rescue,” arguing that the available information does not support that description and leaves several important questions unanswered.
He stated that the words “released” and “rescued” have been used interchangeably by government officials, creating uncertainty about the exact sequence of events that led to the children’s freedom.
“I must correct that description. There was no rescue. I do not agree that it was a rescue operation. They were released. Government itself has used the terms ‘released’ and ‘rescued’ interchangeably.”
While acknowledging the role played by security agencies after the children left captivity, Akeregha argued that significant aspects of the operation remain unexplained.
He said the involvement of security personnel in retrieving the victims from the forest should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that a rescue mission took place.
“Yes, our security forces entered the forest and supervised the retrieval of the victims. But there are questions,” he said.
Akeregha pointed to the appearance of the children after they regained their freedom as one of the issues requiring further clarification.
According to him, the students were reportedly abducted while classes were in session, suggesting they would have been wearing their school uniforms at the time they were taken.
However, he noted that when the children were later seen in public, they were dressed in neatly fitted civilian clothing rather than the uniforms they had allegedly been wearing during the abduction. He questioned how the clothing became available and who provided garments that appeared to fit each child appropriately.
“Where did those clothes come from? Who prepared clothing in the exact sizes required for every child? Were the clothes already waiting for them? Did they bathe before appearing in public? These are legitimate questions,” he said.
The public affairs commentator further disclosed that he had reviewed the official statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga regarding the incident.
Nevertheless, he said the statement did not adequately address the concerns he had raised about the circumstances surrounding the children’s return.
According to Akeregha, despite subsequent government comments on the matter, the questions he believes are central to understanding the incident have yet to receive detailed explanations.