Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured families of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area that his administration is working tirelessly with security agencies to secure their safe release.
The governor gave the assurance during a visit to one of the affected communities on Saturday, nearly two weeks after armed men attacked the area, killing residents and kidnapping several schoolchildren and teachers.
Makinde met with victims’ families, community leaders and residents at L.A. Basic School, one of the institutions affected by the incident. He expressed sympathy for the families and acknowledged the emotional distress caused by the abduction.
According to the governor, the state government remains fully committed to bringing the victims home safely through coordinated and lawful efforts.
He urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and continue praying for the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Makinde revealed that the rescue mission has remained a top priority for his administration, adding that he holds daily strategy meetings with security commanders to review developments and strengthen ongoing operations.
He disclosed that the meetings are held twice every day, often extending late into the night, as authorities work around the clock to secure the release of those in captivity.
The governor stressed that the operation must be handled carefully due to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the kidnappers. While assuring residents that every available resource has been deployed, he noted that certain details of the rescue efforts could not be made public for security reasons.
Makinde described the kidnapping of nursery and primary school pupils as a shocking and unusual development, noting that such incidents are rarely recorded in the country.
He also appealed to the public not to politicise the tragedy or engage in blame games among different tiers of government. Instead, he called for unity and collective support for efforts aimed at rescuing the victims.
The governor emphasized that protecting the lives of the abducted children and their teachers remains the government’s immediate concern, adding that authorities must act responsibly to avoid jeopardising the rescue operation.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when suspected gunmen invaded two communities in Oriire Local Government Area, killing two people and abducting several pupils and teachers.
Two days after the attack, one of the abducted teachers at Community High School, Ahoro Esinle, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly murdered by the kidnappers. A video of the incident later surfaced online.
Last week, two abducted staff members, including the principal of Community High School, Esinle, Folawe Alamu, appealed to Governor Makinde to urgently intervene and secure the release of the remaining victims still being held by the abductors.
The state government has maintained that security agencies are continuing intensive efforts to ensure the safe rescue of all abducted pupils and teachers.
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