Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appealed for national unity in the wake of the abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the incident as a period of national anguish that should not be exploited for political purposes.
The governor made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who staged a peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan over the continued captivity of the victims.
Makinde said security agencies at both the state and federal levels were working relentlessly to secure the release of those abducted, stressing that the focus should remain on rescuing the victims rather than assigning blame.
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“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.
The governor disclosed that the tragedy carried personal significance for him, noting that his late father served as a primary school teacher in a community located close to 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.
Makinde urged citizens to avoid political divisions and instead support ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers.
“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.
Condemning the perpetrators, the governor described them as individuals lacking basic human compassion.
“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 stated.
He assured residents that security operations were ongoing and receiving support from federal authorities.
“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.”
Makinde further revealed that federal security personnel had been actively involved in the rescue mission for weeks.
“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.
Warning against actions that could undermine rescue efforts, the governor said:
“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.”
He also offered reassurance to families of the victims.
“I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers, by the grace of God, will return safely.”
Makinde noted that insecurity poses a serious threat to education, healthcare, and economic development.
“It’s not only schools. In an atmosphere of insecurity, virtually nothing can be achieved. Nothing. Schools, hospitals, economic activities, they all will be grounded.”
The governor pledged that every available resource would continue to be deployed to secure the victims’ release and invited stakeholders to contribute ideas toward strengthening the state’s security framework.
“When we get our children and their teachers back, if you have better ideas about the security architecture and what we can do in the medium to long term, please bring those ideas to the table. We will listen to you and we will act as appropriate.
“Please, and please, and please, it is time to unite to confront the challenges that we have and to bring back those children and our teachers. That is my plea.”
Earlier, Oyo State NUT Chairman, Fatai Hassan, said teachers across the state were deeply concerned by the attack, which reportedly affected four schools and resulted in the death of a teacher.
“We are here for no other purpose but to sympathise with ourselves on this dastardly incident that occurred on the 15th of May,” he said.
According to Hassan: “A public primary school, a public secondary school, a private secondary school and a private primary school were attacked by gunmen, bandits and terrorists.”
He added that: “39 students and seven teachers were taken away to yet unknown destinations,” while “a comrade teacher, Comrade Joel Adesanya, was gunned down immediately.”
The union leader urged the government to intensify rescue efforts and improve security around schools.
“We are here to charge His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, to please do more in fast-tracking the quick release of these people in captivity.”
He warned that fear had gripped teachers across the state.
“Teachers are now living in palpable fears. We cannot attend classes with our open minds anymore. We want our people to be freed as soon as possible.”
Hassan also announced that teachers would remain out of classrooms pending the release of the abducted victims.
“Out of fear, we want to inform you, sir, that our members will stay out of classes pending the release of our people.”
Also speaking, Oyo State NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, described the security challenge as a threat to all Nigerians.
“Beyond being a worker, I want to talk as a citizen of this country.”
He added: “Teachers and pupils were kidnapped. Don’t let that give you the thought that teachers and pupils are the targets. Every Nigerian today is a target.”
Martins argued that the attack was aimed at destabilising one of the country’s most peaceful states.
“They are very much aware that Oyo State was peaceful. They are very much aware that the governor has concern for workers. That is why they did what they did.”
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government.
“In every civilised society, lives come first. Enough of Nigerian politicians playing politics with our lives. The sole and main responsibility of any state is the protection of lives and property.”
Representing students, NANS President Babatunde Akinteyesaid the student body had mobilised nationwide in support of the abducted victims.
“Today, with the structure of NANS across the 36 states of the federation, we are in Oyo State to advocate for the release of our students that were kidnapped by monsters.”
He described the abductors as enemies of society.
“These are people who should not be called human beings. These are monsters. We must do everything to make sure the end of this terror that has invaded our country comes.”
Akinteye explained that students chose peaceful advocacy rather than disruptive protests to avoid interfering with rescue operations.
“Yes, they have called for us to shut down the streets. They have called for us to shut down the federal highways. It is not as if we don’t have the capacity. It is not as if we don’t have the strength and it is not as if we are cowards.”
“But at a time like this, our priority and interest should be the release of our students.”
He pledged support for every effort aimed at securing the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers. “We are standing by every movement, every decision and every process that will bring back our students and the teachers that were kidnapped.”
