Security analyst Dickson Osagie has suggested that the recent abduction of a school headmaster in Tsafe Local Government Area was likely part of a contingency plan by criminal groups after security forces rescued pupils and teachers in Okuama.
Speaking during an interview aired by Channels Television on Monday, July 13, 2026, Osagie said the latest incident should not be interpreted as evidence of a worsening security situation. Instead, he argued that the kidnappers adapted their strategy after anticipating that the government would successfully rescue the earlier victims.
Responding to a question about what the abduction indicates about security in the affected region, Osagie said the criminals likely identified another target to sustain their operations.
“I think these guys have a plan B or second plan. They knew that the Nigerian government is coming for them, and I strongly believe maybe one or two of their criminal cells will want to say, ‘Okay, if they successfully rescue these people, let’s go for this teacher or headmaster,'” he said.
Osagie maintained that the incident should not be seen as a victory for the kidnappers or as proof that the government had failed. He described it as an attempt by the criminal groups to shift their focus after losing the earlier victims and cautioned against politicising the abduction or assigning blame without considering the broader security context.
He also urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve coordination, and adopt more proactive measures to prevent future kidnappings.
In addition, Osagie called on the Federal Ministry of Education to revisit the Safe School Declaration, which Nigeria signed in Oslo, Norway, in 2015. He said the framework includes measures such as improved school perimeter security, reinforced infrastructure, and emergency response systems designed to protect educational institutions and restrict attackers’ movements.
According to Osagie, full implementation of the Safe School Declaration would significantly improve the safety of students, teachers, and school administrators while making it more difficult for criminal groups to carry out attacks and abductions successfully.
