Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Ruth .J
Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Seyi Makinde, has linked the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state to the period immediately after he announced his intention to contest the presidency.
On Friday, July 10, 2026, Governor Seyi Makinde made the statement in Bauchi State during a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement. The meeting, which focused on security, governance and political developments ahead of the 2027 general election, came hours before the Presidency announced the rescue of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers.
Makinde recalled that Oyo State had not recorded a similar school abduction throughout his seven years in office before the May 15 incident in Oriire Local Government Area. He said the timing of the attack came shortly after his declaration to seek the presidency.
“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.
The governor’s comments came as security agencies completed an operation to rescue the victims, who had spent 56 days in captivity after they were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The Presidency announced that the victims were rescued through a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force. According to the Presidency, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, while several others were neutralised during the operation.
The Presidency also stated that no ransom was paid and that security agencies did not negotiate with the abductors or release any detained terrorist kingpin in exchange for the victims’ freedom.
Following the rescue announcement, Makinde expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and all personnel involved in the operation, describing the development as “a big relief” for the victims’ families and residents of Oyo State.
The governor said the successful rescue brought an end to weeks of anxiety after the pupils and teachers were taken from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where the incident had generated national concern and renewed discussions about school security in vulnerable communities.
The rescue operation has been welcomed by families of the abducted victims, although relatives of one teacher killed during the attack continue to mourn their loss.
Makinde had earlier stated that the state government would continue working with security agencies to improve safety and prevent similar incidents, while also calling for broader reforms to Nigeria’s security structure.
The incident has again placed the issue of insecurity, particularly attacks affecting schools and rural communities, at the centre of national discussions as political activities continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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