Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that the abduction of scores of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state represents a moment of national distress requiring unity rather than political recriminations, assuring Nigerians that every available security resource is being deployed to secure the safe return of those held captive.
Speaking on Tuesday during a peaceful protest led by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Makinde said the ongoing rescue efforts have received support from all levels of government and security agencies.
“This is a time of national distress. It is not the time to trade blame. It is not the time to play politics,” the governor declared.
In an emotional reflection on his personal connection to the teaching profession, Makinde revealed that his late father taught in a community located less than 15 kilometres from where the attack occurred.
“I am personally distressed. My own father was a primary school teacher. He actually taught at Awole Dada, less than 15 kilometres away from where this incident happened. My father was there in 1959 and 1960. If something like this had happened to him, maybe I wouldn’t even have been born,” he said.
The governor insisted that the tragedy should not become a platform for political finger-pointing, stressing that the challenge of insecurity requires a united response.
“This is not the time for us to say it is the President that should have handled this, or it is the Governor, or the local government. This is a time to pull together as one,” he said.
Describing the abductors as individuals devoid of humanity, Makinde stated: “We are not dealing with normal human beings. Just think briefly, how will somebody take a fellow human being and slaughter him? Is that somebody that is normal? These are not normal people.”
He appealed to teachers, workers, students and residents to maintain confidence in government and security agencies, saying extensive operations have been ongoing since the incident.
“I can only appeal to you, all the students, the workers and the teachers, to please have trust in your government. We are doing our best,” he said.
According to him, security personnel deployed from the Federal Government have remained on the ground for weeks pursuing leads.
“I’ve heard from the Federal Government. Security operatives have been here for the past two weeks. They spent their salaries here. I have been meeting with them morning and night, sometimes three or four times in a day,” he disclosed.
Makinde warned against actions capable of emboldening criminal elements, adding, “We shouldn’t provide oxygen to the people that want to see us divided. The response at this time should be to pull together and allow the government to see this through.”
Offering his strongest assurance yet since the abduction, the governor declared: “I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers, by the grace of God, will return safely.”
