Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has linked the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area to the timing of his declaration to contest the 2027 presidential election, saying the incident occurred just hours after he announced his ambition.
Makinde made the remarks on Friday while addressing a meeting with Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi.
Reflecting on the incident, the governor said Oyo State had enjoyed relative peace throughout his seven years in office until the attack, which took place shortly after he declared his presidential bid.
> “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 was referring to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, an incident that triggered widespread concern across the state.
Hours after Makinde’s comments, the Presidency announced that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
According to the Presidency, the victims regained their freedom during a coordinated operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, who are now in DSS custody, while several other members of the gang were neutralised.
The Presidency also disclosed that the rescue was carried out without any negotiation or prisoner exchange, despite the kidnappers’ reported demand for the release of one of their detained leaders currently facing prosecution.
Reacting to the successful operation, Makinde expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their efforts in securing the safe release of the victims.
He thanked the military, the police, the DSS, and other security personnel involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a huge relief for the affected families and residents of Oyo State after weeks of uncertainty.
President Tinubu also praised the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage and directed relevant emergency agencies to collaborate with the Oyo State Government to provide medical treatment, counselling, and other necessary support for the rescued pupils and teachers.
Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14 during a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, where he pledged to “reset Nigeria.” He was later adopted as the Allied Peoples Movement’s consensus presidential candidate.
