Makinde Assures Rescue Of Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren, Says Operation Ongoing

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured residents that efforts are in top gear to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in the state, insisting that the government is fully committed to bringing them home safely.

The governor gave the assurance while speaking with social media influencer VeryDarkMan and other protesters who visited the Oyo State Government House on Tuesday. A video of the encounter has since circulated online.

Makinde, visibly emotional during the engagement, said the incident had deeply affected him personally, noting that the victims — including nursery and primary school pupils — had already spent over a month in captivity.

“I am also distressed because I have children of my own. I’m also distressed with what has happened to our children. It has been one month, just one month and one day already,” the governor said.

He explained that while the state government is working tirelessly on rescue efforts, details of the operation cannot be made public due to its sensitive nature.

“Because of the nature of the security situation that is involved, I cannot divulge a lot of information,” Makinde added.

Describing the abduction as highly unusual and deeply troubling, the governor noted that it was the first recorded case in Nigeria involving the kidnapping of nursery and primary school pupils.

“These are children that cannot even run or do anything for themselves. So, the operation to rescue them is a special type of operation,” he said.

Makinde assured residents that authorities were working carefully to ensure the children are rescued alive and unharmed.

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“I don’t want to lose any of those children. I give you the assurance that I, as the governor, by God’s grace, will bring out those children,” he said.

Government Confirms Contact With Abductors

The governor also confirmed that the state government is currently in communication with the abductors, describing the move as a difficult but necessary step in the rescue process.

He explained that while negotiating with criminals is a sensitive issue, the priority in this case remains the safe return of the victims.

“If governments are negotiating with bandits, it means portraying great sovereignty to the bandits. In this special situation, for those children alive, we have to bear the burden,” Makinde said.

Makinde further expressed confidence that once the children are rescued, stronger preventive measures would be put in place to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

“Once the children are out, I give you the assurance that it will not occur again,” he added.