Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured families of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area that the state government is doing everything possible to secure their safe return.
The governor gave the assurance during a visit to one of the affected communities over the weekend, nearly two weeks after armed men attacked the area, killing residents and abducting several schoolchildren and teachers.
Makinde met with victims’ families, community leaders, and residents at L.A. Basic School, one of the schools impacted by the attack. During the meeting, he expressed sympathy for the affected families and acknowledged the emotional trauma they have endured since the incident.
According to the governor, the state government remains fully committed to ensuring the safe rescue of all those still in captivity. He urged residents to remain calm, support security agencies, and continue praying for the victims.
Makinde stated that his administration has been working closely with security operatives and reviewing rescue strategies on a daily basis. He revealed that the situation has become a top priority for his government, with regular meetings held with security commanders both morning and night to assess developments and strengthen rescue efforts.
The governor noted that the operation requires careful handling because of the dangerous nature of the kidnappers. While assuring families that all available resources have been deployed to secure the victims’ freedom, he explained that some aspects of the operation could not be disclosed publicly for security reasons.
He further described the abduction of nursery and primary school pupils as a disturbing and unusual development, noting that such incidents are rarely recorded in the country.
Makinde also appealed to Nigerians not to politicise the tragedy or engage in blame games among the federal, state, and local governments. He stressed that the immediate focus should remain on rescuing the abducted children and their teachers safely.
The governor said that although many individuals have offered suggestions and opinions on how the situation should be handled, authorities must act responsibly to avoid actions that could endanger the lives of those being held captive.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when suspected gunmen invaded two communities in Oriire Local Government Area, killing two people and kidnapping several pupils and teachers.
Days after the attack, one of the abducted teachers from Community High School, Ahoro Esinle, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the kidnappers, with a video of the incident later circulating online.
Last week, two abducted school staff members, including the principal of Community High School, Esinle, Folawe Alamu, appealed to Governor Makinde to urgently intensify efforts to rescue the remaining pupils and teachers still in captivity.
The state government has maintained that security agencies are working round the clock to ensure the victims are returned home safely.
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