Following the recent abduction of students and educators in the Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has asserted that his government refuses to back down in the face of terrorism.
Addressing reporters in Ibadan on Monday, Governor Makinde emphasized that the state remains resolute against any form of intimidation.
“We will not give in to terror. We will do everything possible to ensure that our children and their teachers are returned safely,” he stated.
The governor affirmed that the administration is dedicated to utilizing all legal avenues to bring the captive students and teachers back home.
“So, whatever it is they demand, we are ready to listen to them and address the ones we can address as a state government. But the children and their teachers must be released immediately,” he said.
These comments followed a crucial security evaluation meeting involving state security advisers and service commanders, prompted by Friday’s assault on the Ahoro Esinle Community. Characterizing the current landscape as “fluid and difficult”, Makinde noted that security forces are executing synchronized operations to locate and free the hostages.
He called on citizens to assist law enforcement by sharing actionable intelligence.
“If you see something strange, say something, and expect us to do something,” he said.
Expressing concern over the nation’s deteriorating security environment, the governor pointed to a loss of community values.
“We once had a country where we were each other’s brother’s keeper. How did we descend to this point? These are not foreign people; it is us against ourselves,” he said, drawing a parallel to themes explored by literary icon Chinua Achebe.
Furthermore, he urged journalists and citizens alike to handle information about the situation with care.
“This is not something sensational. It involves lives,” Makinde said.
To bolster future security measures, the governor shared that a state surveillance plane has landed in the country and is currently undergoing setup at the Nigerian Air Force facility in Lagos. The aircraft is projected to be in service by late June, where it will be deployed to monitor the Oyo-Kwara boundaries alongside the border separating Oyo State from the Benin Republic.
Makinde clarified that this aerial monitoring initiative was already in motion prior to the latest kidnappings, serving as a pillar of the state’s long-term security strategy.
Meanwhile, educators in Ogbomoso gathered for a peaceful demonstration earlier on Monday. The protest, which followed the tragic death of a teacher during the initial raid, highlighted demands for heightened school protection and the swift return of the missing individuals.
