OYO ABDUCTION OCCURRED HOURS AFTER I DECLARED FOR PRESIDENTIAL RACE — MAKINDE
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By ‘Sefiu Ajape
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has revealed that the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area occurred just hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde made the disclosure while addressing a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi, recalling that Oyo State had not experienced a similar incident throughout his seven years in office before the May 15 attack.
“For seven years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State. I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at four o’clock, and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted,” Makinde said.
Hours after his remarks in Bauchi, the Presidency announced that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
The Presidency said the victims were freed during a joint operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, adding that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while others were neutralised.
It also stated that no negotiation or exchange took place to secure the victims’ release, despite the kidnappers’ demand for the release of one of their detained kingpins, who is currently facing prosecution.
Following the rescue, Makinde expressed relief and commended President Bola Tinubu, the military, police, DSS and other security agencies for their roles in securing the victims’ freedom.
The governor described the rescue as “a big relief” for the victims’ families and residents of Oyo State, saying the successful operation ended weeks of anxiety following the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire.
President Tinubu also praised the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage and directed emergency agencies to collaborate with the Oyo State Government to provide medical attention and other necessary support for the rescued pupils and teachers.
Makinde had formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14 during a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, where he announced his ambition to “reset Nigeria.”
He later emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement at the party’s primary election after contesting as its consensus candidate.
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