Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for not publicly reacting to the release of the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.   In a post on X on Saturday, Onanuga said nearly 18 hours after the victims regained their freedom, Atiku had yet to acknowledge the development or congratulate the Federal Government, security agencies and the rescued victims. According to Onanuga, Atiku had repeatedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration during the 57 days the pupils and teachers were held captive but had remained silent since their release. He suggested that the former vice president had turned the abduction into a political issue and questioned why he had not commented on the successful rescue. Onanuga, however, commended Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for welcoming the victims’ release. He noted that Obi called for thanksgiving and expressed relief over the successful operation, although he did not directly praise President Tinubu. The 39 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped on May 15 after gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area. One abducted teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed by the kidnappers. Throughout the period of captivity, Atiku repeatedly criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the incident, insisting that rescuing the victims should take precedence over other government activities. He also questioned the administration’s response and urged greater urgency in tackling the crisis. Following Friday’s rescue, Onanuga disclosed that security forces secured the victims’ release without negotiating with the kidnappers. He said eight suspected gang members were arrested and handed over to the Department of State Services, while several others were killed during the operation. He added that the kingpin whose release had been demanded by the kidnappers remains in custody and is facing prosecution. Reacting to the rescue, Obi said he was relieved and delighted by the victims’ safe return, thanking security personnel and everyone involved in the operation. He nevertheless urged authorities to intensify efforts against kidnapping nationwide, warning that the successful rescue should not overshadow Nigeria’s broader security challenges. President Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also welcomed the victims’ release, praising the military, the Department of State Services and the police for carrying out the operation without making concessions to the abductors.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma, has commended President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s security agencies for the successful rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire, Oyo State.   According to a statement issued on Friday, Uzodimma described the operation as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians. He noted that the victims regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity. The Imo State governor expressed delight that the pupils and their teachers were reunited with their families unharmed, stressing that no ransom was paid and no concessions were made to the kidnappers. He congratulated the parents of the victims as well as the Oyo State Government and residents, saying the successful operation demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve not to abandon its citizens. Uzodimma said the rescue followed a direct directive from President Tinubu and was carried out by a joint task force comprising the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies and other security operatives. According to him, the operation led to the dismantling of the kidnappers’ network, the arrest of eight suspects and the unconditional release of all the captives. He said the outcome reflected the President’s determination to ensure the safety of every Nigerian, warning that those involved in kidnapping and terrorism would neither find refuge nor escape justice. The PGF chairman also praised the security personnel who spent weeks in the forest during the rescue mission, describing their dedication and sacrifice as commendable. “As Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, I assure the President that the Progressive Governors stand firmly behind him and our security agencies in the continuing work of ridding our country of terrorism,” he said. Uzodimma further expressed solidarity with the rescued children, their teachers and their families, wishing them a speedy recovery from the trauma of their ordeal.

The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has risen above 4,100, with thousands still missing as authorities continue recovery operations in the worst seismic disaster to hit the country in more than a century.   According to AFP, cited by Channels Television, at least 4,118 people have been confirmed dead, while 16,740 others were injured following the powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24. The latest figures were released by Venezuelan parliament chief Jorge Rodriguez via Telegram. The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, struck just 39 seconds apart, with the stronger tremor becoming Venezuela’s most powerful earthquake in over 100 years. Entire neighbourhoods and high-rise apartment buildings in the coastal state of La Guaira were reduced to rubble. Although official rescue operations have ended, relatives of those still missing continue searching through the debris in the hope of recovering the bodies of loved ones for burial. A 3.0 magnitude aftershock rattled central Caracas on Friday, briefly triggering panic and prompting evacuations from several buildings. The disaster has placed enormous pressure on Venezuela’s already fragile public services, which have been weakened by years of economic hardship. The United Nations has appealed for nearly $300 million in emergency funding to support relief and recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has urged the release of the country’s frozen overseas assets to help finance reconstruction. She said she had appealed to King Charles III to release around 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold held under UK sanctions.

Turkey’s health ministry has fined more than 100 obstetrician-gynaecologists for performing Caesarean section deliveries, with some doctors suspended from practice and ordered to undergo retraining as the government intensifies efforts to reduce C-section births.   According to a report by AFP, cited by Channels Television, Turkey recorded the highest Caesarean section rate among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2023, about 615 out of every 1,000 live births were delivered by C-section. Medical professionals say Caesarean procedures are often preferred because they take about 30 minutes compared with up to 12 hours for vaginal deliveries. They also argue the procedure can reduce legal risks arising from complications during childbirth. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has made reducing elective Caesarean deliveries part of its “Decade of the Family” initiative, launched to address the country’s declining birth rate. In April 2025, the government banned elective C-sections in private hospitals unless there was a clear medical reason. The left-leaning newspaper BirGun reported that more than 100 doctors had been sanctioned, citing figures from medical associations across Turkey. The measures have triggered criticism from healthcare professionals. The Antalya Chamber of Physicians said affected obstetricians received warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, were temporarily suspended from practising, and were required to attend antenatal training courses because of high Caesarean section rates. The Diken news website also reported the case of an obstetrician in Sakarya, near Istanbul, who was dismissed from a private hospital at the request of the health ministry. The doctor was suspended for six months, required to complete training at a state hospital, and pass an examination before being allowed to return to practice. Dr Ayse Gultekingil, a senior official of the Turkish Medical Association, argued that punishing doctors would not address the root causes of Turkey’s high Caesarean delivery rate. She said the country’s C-section rate exceeded 60 per cent and reflected broader structural challenges within Turkey’s healthcare system rather than the decisions of individual doctors.