Oyo School Kidnapping: One Dead, Seven Teachers Abducted, Number Of Kidnapped Pupils Unknown – Makinde Gives Update
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde says his government is doing everything possible to rescue the seven teachers and a yet-to-be-ascertained number of pupils kidnapped in Ahoro Esinele Community of Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The governor stated this after holding a security review of the situation with his security advisers and service commanders.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, Governor Makinde expressed his sympathy to the families of victims of the abduction, noting that from reports, seven teachers were abducted while the number of abducted pupils is yet to be ascertained.
He announced the killing of one of the teachers, expressing his condolences to the family of the victim, while he equally sympathised with the families of some members of the tactical team of soldiers, Amotekun Corps and Local Vigilantes, who ran into Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors during an effort to rescue the abducted teachers and students.
Governor Makinde stated that the wounded security personnel were responding positively to treatments and that the government would spare no cost in taking care of them.
He said:“First, let me appeal to the families that are involved that their government is working round the clock to ensure that we tackle this challenge. And, for our troops and our service commanders, we have a few wounded soldiers and hunters and other operatives. They are recovering.
“The government will continue to take responsibility for ensuring that they fully recover and look after their medical bills.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. And, unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand the Maths teacher, was killed by the terrorists this morning. Of course, our prayers are with the family.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just the kinetic approach. But there have been a lot of threats and tempers have been rising, especially from a lot of our leaders, elders, and religious leaders. We have heard and seen your reactions, and, I want to say that we are not taking this lightly.
“I want to appeal to everybody; citizens, residents, particularly those in Oriire Local Government and the rest of Oyo State that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that we resolve this situation quickly and bring our children back safely. But we must recognise that it is a very difficult and challenging situation.
He noted, however, that the government has achieved a level of success with the operation, with some individuals already arrested in connection with the situation.
Responding on how Oyo State is engaging with neighbouring states to curb the influx of terrorists into the state, the governor explained that the fact that there is pressure on terrorists and bandits in the North-West and North-East meant that they would move southwards, noting that since there is pressure on them from one side, the other side must work towards repelling or neutralising the threats.
The governor also assured the citizens that they would be kept abreast of the progress being made with the rescue operation through a daily briefing.
