Makinde Says Oyo Government Ready to Address Kidnappers’ Demands After School Abductions

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration is prepared to listen to and address the demands of kidnappers responsible for the recent abduction of pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

Makinde made the disclosure during a press briefing in Ibadan, where he reassured residents that the government was doing everything possible to secure the safe release of all victims. The governor, however, emphasized that the state would not surrender to terrorism despite its willingness to engage the abductors if necessary to save lives.

According to the governor, the attack affected multiple schools in the Ahoro-Esinele axis of Oriire LGA. He confirmed that seven secondary school students, 18 primary school pupils, and seven teachers were abducted during the assault, while one teacher was reportedly killed by the attackers.

“Whatever it is they demand, we are ready to listen to them and address the ones we can as a state government,” Makinde said, while insisting that the abducted children and teachers must be released without delay.

The governor described the situation as painful and unfortunate, lamenting what he called the collapse of communal values and national unity. He stressed that the perpetrators were not foreigners but Nigerians attacking fellow citizens.

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Makinde also disclosed that the state government had established an operational security centre at the police headquarters in Ibadan to coordinate rescue operations and manage intelligence gathering linked to the abduction case.

As part of broader security measures, the governor revealed that two surveillance aircraft procured by the state government had already arrived in Nigeria and were currently being assembled at a Nigerian Air Force facility in Lagos. He said the aircraft would become operational before the end of June 2026 to strengthen monitoring across the Oyo-Kwara border and areas bordering the Republic of Benin.

The abduction has sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria, especially following reports that one of the kidnapped teachers was beheaded by the attackers. Civil society groups, religious leaders, and political figures have continued to demand urgent action from authorities to rescue the remaining victims.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric and assuring Nigerians that security agencies were working closely with the Oyo State Government to secure the release of the abducted victims and apprehend those behind the attack.