Post by John Okiyi Kalu (@JOK)

Oyo Rescue: God Bless Our Security Forces

The more details that emerge about the successful rescue of the Ogbomosho schoolchildren, the greater my admiration for the courage, discipline, and professionalism of Nigeria’s security forces. They confronted terrorists who hid behind innocent children and teachers—a nightmare scenario for any military operation anywhere in the world.

May the souls of the brave security personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice rest in peace. May God also comfort the families of every victim, including the teachers who lost their lives. Their sacrifice should never be reduced to fodder for political point-scoring.

Hopefully, those who rushed to dismiss the kidnapping as a hoax or manufacture conspiracy theories from cropped photographs now realize that real people bled, real families are grieving, and brave men and women died to save innocent Nigerians.

The same Oyo State Government that announced the abduction is the same government announcing the rescue. Yet some self-appointed “online investigators” believe a zoomed-in photograph is more credible than the testimony of victims, rescuers, and grieving families. That’s not skepticism; it’s conspiracy masquerading as intelligence.

And about the now-famous photograph: it was taken after the rescue operation had ended—after the victims had been counted, treated, and brought to safety. So, if one rescued victim is seen holding a mobile phone, the obvious explanation is that someone—very likely a rescuer—gave it to them to contact loved ones or for another legitimate reason. It is not evidence that the kidnapping never happened.

Social media rewards outrage, not accuracy. But facts remain stubborn things. No amount of zooming into pixels will erase the blood that was shed or the heroism that secured the freedom of those children.

May God continue to protect our security forces and grant eternal rest to those who paid the supreme price.

Ozo emena!!

—JOK

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