Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has assured residents that the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in the state will be rescued, stating that his administration is intensifying efforts to secure their safe release.
The governor gave the assurance while addressing social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, and other protesters at the Oyo State Government House in a video that surfaced on Tuesday.
Makinde expressed concern over the incident, describing the prolonged captivity of the victims as painful and distressing.
According to him, the affected victims, including nursery and primary school pupils, had remained in captivity for over one month.
He said:
“I am also distressed because I have children of my own. I understand the pain and concern surrounding what has happened to our children. It has been one month and one day already.”
The governor, however, explained that he could not reveal operational details regarding efforts to secure the victims due to the sensitive nature of the rescue mission.
“Because of the nature of the security situation involved, I cannot divulge a lot of information,” he stated.
Makinde described the incident as unusual and noted that cases involving the abduction of nursery and primary school pupils remain extremely rare.
“This is the first time anywhere in Nigeria that nursery and primary school children have been abducted under such circumstances. These are children who cannot protect themselves or even run. The operation to rescue them requires a specialised approach,” he said.
The governor assured residents that authorities were prioritising the safety of the victims to prevent loss of lives during rescue efforts.
“I do not want to lose any of those children. I give you the assurance that I, as governor, by God’s grace, will bring those children back,” he added.
Speaking further, Makinde confirmed that communication channels had been opened with the abductors as part of efforts to ensure the victims’ safety.
He acknowledged concerns surrounding negotiations with criminal groups but described the situation as exceptional.
“If governments negotiate with bandits, it raises difficult questions. But in this special situation, if it means preserving the lives of those children, we must carry that burden,” he said.
The governor also assured residents that additional measures would be introduced after the victims’ release to strengthen security and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
“Once the children are out, I assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure this does not happen again,” Makinde stated.
