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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said government is ready to listen to the pleas of abductors of pupils, students and teachers abducted during attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, to ensure their safe release.
Makinde stated this on Monday while addressing newsmen at his private residence in Kolapo Ishola Estate, Ibadan, on the kidnapping incident that occurred in Ahoro Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area.
He, however, asserted that the State will never surrender to terrorism, assuring that all efforts will be intensified to ensure that the victims return home unharmed.
“We have now confirmed conclusively that at Community Secondary School, seven students were abducted, while at First Baptist Primary and Nursery School, 18 children were abducted along with seven teachers.
“Unfortunately, as I reported yesterday, one of them was killed.”
Makinde described the situation as “fluid and difficult”, stressing that security officers were still carrying out rescue operations in the area.
“The operation is still ongoing and the situation remains very fluid and difficult for our troops on the ground.
“I will therefore appeal for responsible reporting because this is not about sensationalism; it is about human lives,” he said.
The governor disclosed that the state government has established an operations room at the Oyo State Police Command Headquarters to coordinate rescue efforts and provide verified information to the public.
“We have set up an operation center at the police headquarters here. The police commissioner will coordinate the operation room and provide the required information,” he added.
Speaking on the strengthening of security, Makinde confirmed that surveillance aircraft procured by the state government have arrived in Nigeria and are currently being assembled at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Lagos.
“The Chinese manufacturers arrived about three days ago and it will take about two weeks to complete the process.
“I can say in conclusion that surveillance planes will be operational by the end of June,” the governor said.
He explained that the aircraft were proactively procured to monitor border communities between Oyo and neighboring states as well as the international border with Benin Republic.
“We were proactive because we wanted to cover the border between Oyo and Kwara states, as well as the international border between our state and Benin Republic, even though we did not foresee this particular incident,” he said.
Makinde appealed to the kidnappers to quickly release the victims, insisting that the government is willing to involve them to save lives.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that our children and their teachers return safely.
“These are not foreigners; they are our people.
“Whatever their demands, we are ready to listen and address those we can as a state government.
“The children and their teachers must be released without delay,” he said.
