Security operatives must immediately locate and rescue all those abducted recently by the Boko Haram sect while carrying out oil exploration research in the Lake Chad Basin Frontier Exploration.

Giving the order, Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, said those who carried out the ambush which he described as an unacceptable and criminal conduct must be brought to justice.

Osinbajo also ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible, using all available and expedient means in the circumstances.

He paid tribute to the resilience, courage and bravery of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their gallant endeavours and sacrifices for the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

The Acting President who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, also commiserated with the families, relatives and associates of those who lost their lives in the onslaught and wished the injured speedy recovery.

Boko Haram insurgents had attacked oil workers carrying out exploration activity in the Lake Chad Basin area and members of the civilian JTF providing security for them particularly around Jibi village situated between Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno state.

He noted that the exploration activity was to open up new sources of oil for the common good of Nigerians, commending the military for the progress already recorded in the rescue of some of the abducted persons.

Osinbajo, however, ordered the continuation of search and rescue missions to locate and ensure the freedom of all remaining abducted persons as soon as possible.

He said justice would be pursued for the victims and against those who engaged in “this kind of unacceptable, criminal and terrorist conduct’’.

The acting President commended the armed forces’ gallant endeavours and sacrifices toward maintaining the peace, security and territorial integrity of the country.

He eulogised the Nigerian soldiers who had paid the ultimate price in that mission and others linked to the current insurgency and gave the assurance that the welfare of the families of the soldiers would be prioritised.

Osinbajo lauded the diligence of the management and staff members of the NNPC and the lecturers/consultants from the University of Maiduguri in pursuing Federal Government’s resolve to grow the country’s current crude oil reserve base.

According to him, the Federal Government will by no means be dissuaded in potential exploration in the Lake Chad Basin.

Some of these extraordinarily selfless Nigerians from the NNPC and the University of Maiduguri put their lives on the line that we and generations to come will enjoy the resources of this land.

Although pockets of terrorists had launched attacks recently in Borno State, the Acting President assured the people of the State, the region and indeed Nigerians of triumph.

He said,“the government is not only on top of the situation but will define the end of these atrocities by both winning the war and winning the peace in the North-East.’’

In a related development, United Nations, African Union, and Economic Community of West African States have condemned and deplored the Boko Haram terrorists ambush in Maiduguri, against a convoy of personnel of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company accompanied by geologists, under military escort.

The bodies reaffirmed their support to the people and the government of Nigeria in their struggle against terrorism.

They also reiterated their support to all Economic Community of West African States to fight against terrorism, by encouraging them to implement the ECOWAS counter-terrorism strategy aimed at eradicating the menace in the region.