In a statement on X on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has openly questioned the Nigerian government’s account of the rescue of 44 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State, sparking fresh debate over security operations and transparency in hostage situations.
Ibe highlighted a glaring contradiction between official claims and the testimony of one of the freed victims. “On the 10th of July, the Presidency in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga announced the rescue (and not release) of the 44 Oriire school children and teachers by our security forces after 56 days in captivity,” Ibe wrote.
He continued, “But speaking on Info FM, one of the freed teachers, Mr. Olatunde Zacchaeus claims that they were indeed released by the terrorists.” Ibe noted that the teacher’s account directly contradicts the Tinubu-led administration’s version of events. “Teacher Olatunde Zacchaeus’s claims is in stark contradiction to what the Tinubu-led APC administration told the nation,” he said.
Ibe pressed further, asking whether the teacher simply failed to understand the difference between “release” and “rescue,” or if deeper issues were at play. “Is it that Zacchaeus, as a teacher, does not know the difference between to release and rescue, or is he an ‘agent’ of the opposition, or what?” he questioned.
The veteran media strategist linked the discrepancy to broader concerns about how kidnapping cases are handled in Nigeria. He suggested the revelation raises “the issue of state sponsored payment of ransom to terrorists and bandits and conspiracy theories that some of the so-called abductions are state-sponsored.”
Ibe threw his support behind Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s earlier call for an independent probe. “I agree 💯% with Makinde, there’s a compelling need for an independent investigation of an international dimension to establish what happened in Oriire, Oyo State,” he declared.
He also referenced similar incidents, including the abduction in Mussa village in Borno State, urging clarity on those cases as well. The outspoken adviser ended by demanding updates on ongoing crises. “Meanwhile, what’s the update on the plan for the rescue or release of the abducted school children in Borno?” Ibe asked…..See More
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