Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Friday mourned Sergeant John Abena, who died during a joint security operation to rescue schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
Disu, who expressed grief over the loss of his personnel, explained that the police officer paid the supreme price while working alongside other security agencies to free the abducted children.
No fewer than 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers were abducted from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May by terrorists.
At least two teachers were killed in captivity by the terrorists, a development that generated outrage nationwide.
Other captives were subsequently rescued by joint security operatives, including police, army, DSS and others, after spending 56 days in the bush.
The rescued victims had since been handed over to the Oyo State Government, and were reunited with members of their families.
Speaking at Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Friday, while receiving the personnel who took part in the rescue mission, the IG commended the operatives involved in the operation for their bravery and success.
He said, “We just finished prayer for the officer we lost in the Oyo State school abduction incident. You remember I called all of you here some few weeks back where I advised you and told you you’ll be joining other sister agencies in a very serious national assignment.
“I’m happy you guys went and you did us proud. I got information from the commander of the operation the parts you played. I cannot thank you enough for your national service.”
The IGP disclosed that other officers who sustained injuries during the operation were responding well to treatment, assuring that the force would continue catering for their welfare as well as the family of the slain officer.
“For the others who sustained injury, we are happy they are recovering very fast,” he said, adding that both government and private hospitals had been engaged to ensure the injured officers received adequate care.
Explaining why the police made the deaths of officers killed in the line of duty public, the IG said personnel were human beings entitled to be mourned and celebrated, stressing that the practice was standard globally.
“Police officers first and foremost are human beings. Police officers have emotions. Police officers feel it when a colleague dies,” he said, noting that such officers die “protecting the people.”
The IGP hailed the collaboration between the police and other security agencies, insisting that no single agency was superior to the other in the fight against insecurity.
“We have made up our minds to work together, train together and fight this insurgency together,” he stated.
He also appealed to members of the public to volunteer useful information to security agencies.
“We beg you. We plead to members of the public. If you see something, say something. Cooperate with the security agency.
“The situation we have now is such that everybody must come together. Give us information. Assist us to nip it in the bud. Because the life you save may be your own,” he said.
One of the officers who participated in the operation said the team did not see the abducted children as strangers but as their own.
“We didn’t look at them as victims. We look at them as our own children. Every step we took, we took those steps for the children. And this is what we are trained for. We are still going back to our various formations to continue our work.
“So we are very happy that we carried out the successful operation. What is expected of us, we heard the cry and we answered the call.”
