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President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has declared that the Nigerian government will end killings in the country.
Bwala made the remark while maintaining that Nigerians reserve the right to defend themselves with lethal weapons against aggressors in their houses.
He spoke on Arise Television on Wednesday in reaction to the killings in Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
On Friday, gunmen had invaded the LA Primary school where teachers and pupils were abducted.
Reacting, Bwala said: “Solution is what we all look to, evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government.
“You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence we will be able to put an end to it.
“I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain. So because if for example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happened again people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the life of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element. We will put an end to this as a people.
“Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026 you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy. A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation.
“The constitution has guarantee to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self defense, you have the right to defend yourself.
“When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective right to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.
“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the constitution.
“Number two as a people we have vigilante and in Borno State we have paramilitary organizations that provide intelligence to law enforcement.
“Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves.”
In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday arrested two suspects, Shehu and Abubakar, in connection with the abduction of two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria at Idi-Ayunre in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.
A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, in Ibadan, said the incident occurred at about 6 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2026.
He explained that a distress report was received at the Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters from the chief security officer of CRIN, reporting the abduction of two staff members of the institution by unidentified armed men who reportedly invaded the premises and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination.
The PPRO said upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, during which preliminary findings revealed that about six armed men invaded the area before abducting the victims.
Ayanlade said, “The State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that on May 19, 2026, at about 1800hrs, a distress report was received at Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters from the Chief Security Officer of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, reporting the abduction of two staff members of the institution by unidentified armed men who reportedly invaded the premises of the institute and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, during which preliminary findings revealed that about six armed men invaded the area before abducting the victims.”
He said intensive bush combing and coordinated search operations had commenced across surrounding forested locations linked to the incident.
The PPRO added that the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbemiga Abimbola, had directed the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence assets, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators.
The police spokesperson said, “It was during one of such operations on May 20, 2026, at about 0810hrs, that police operatives encountered and accosted two suspicious individuals identified as Shehu and Abubakar.
“Upon preliminary interrogation, the duo volunteered to lead the operatives to the hideout of their accomplices.
“However, while approaching the suspected location, the team came under gunfire attack from armed men believed to be members of the kidnapping syndicate.
“The operatives responded professionally, repelled the attack, and successfully extracted the two suspects, who are currently in the custody of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation and intelligence exploitation.
“While these operations are ongoing and yielding actionable leads, the command has observed with serious concern the circulation of false and misleading reports by certain media outlets and social media platforms alleging another mass abduction in Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the State Police Command categorically states that no such incident has been reported anywhere within Ibadan metropolis or its environs apart from the already reported CRIN incident presently receiving robust operational attention.
“The command views the dissemination of such unverified and sensational reports as highly irresponsible and capable of creating unnecessary fear, panic, and tension among residents.
“Beyond this, the spread of false information has the tendency to undermine public confidence in ongoing security efforts while equally diverting limited operational and emergency response resources away from genuine security concerns requiring immediate attention.
“It is against this backdrop that the command strongly advises media organisations, bloggers, and social media influencers to uphold the principles of responsible reportage by verifying security-related information through appropriate channels before publication.”
He said the police remain committed to maintaining a productive relationship with the media, adding that such partnership must be guided by accuracy, professionalism, and the collective interest of public safety and national security.
The command reassured residents that robust security measures have been emplaced across the affected axis and other strategic locations within the state to deny criminal elements any operational foothold.
It also encouraged the general public to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding while continuing to support the police and other security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding ongoing operations.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has issued a stern warning against the spread of unverified security information.
The government stated that misinformation risks causing public panic, misleading ongoing security operations and eroding community confidence at a time when security agencies are intensifying efforts to rescue victims of a recent terrorist attack in Ogbomoso.
The warning was conveyed in a statement on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Security, Abayomi Fagbenro, who stressed the need for residents to verify any security-related information before circulating it.
Fagbenro also cautioned the public against the equally dangerous habit of ignoring or failing to report actual threats, warning that such false negatives could slow down timely response from security agencies.
“The Office of the Special Adviser on Security wishes to draw the attention of the public to the need for responsible reporting of security-related concerns in line with the principle that citizens should see something and say something.
“Members of the public are urged to ensure that any information they communicate is accurate and verified, to avoid misinformation that may affect ongoing security operations and the confidence of the people.
“The public is also informed about the danger of false negatives, where actual threats or suspicious activities are ignored or not reported, which can slow down timely response from security agencies.
“Citizens are therefore advised to remain alert, observe carefully, and report only what they know or have reasonably confirmed to the appropriate authorities so as to prevent avoidable security incidents. Security is a collective responsibility, and every credible information provided to the relevant authorities helps to strengthen safety and peace in our communities,” Fagbenro said.
The warning comes on the heels of a false rumour that circulated on Tuesday, claiming that bandits had again attacked the Ladoke Akinola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and that the institution had been shut down.
The tension in the area stems from a terrorist attack last Friday, in which gunmen stormed three schools on the outskirts of Ogbomoso, killing two teachers.
One of the teachers was shot during the attack and later confirmed dead, while another, who was among those abducted, was allegedly beheaded by the kidnappers.
Seven students, 18 children and six teachers are yet to regain their freedom, with security operatives said to be intensifying efforts to rescue the abducted victims.
