Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday suggested that the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area occurred shortly after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi, Makinde recalled that Oyo State had not experienced a similar school abduction throughout his seven years in office until the incident of May 15.
“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.
His remarks came just hours before the Presidency announced the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Presidency, the victims were freed during a coordinated operation involving the military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, while several others were neutralised during the operation.
The Presidency also stated that security agencies did not negotiate with the abductors or release any detained kingpin in exchange for the victims, despite the kidnappers’ demands.
Following the rescue, Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the military, the police, the DSS and other security agencies for securing the victims’ freedom.
Describing the development as “a big relief,” the governor said the rescue had brought an end to weeks of anxiety for the affected families and the people of Oyo State after the pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
