By Adeola Badru
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that the abduction of scores of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state represents a moment of national distress requiring unity rather than political recriminations, assuring Nigerians that every available security resource is being deployed to secure the safe return of those held captive.
Speaking on Tuesday during a peaceful protest led by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Makinde said the ongoing rescue efforts have received support from all levels of government and security agencies.
“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.
In an emotional reflection on his personal connection to the teaching profession, Makinde revealed that his late father taught in a community located less than 15 kilometres from 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.
The governor insisted that the tragedy should not become a platform for political finger-pointing, stressing that the challenge of insecurity requires a united response.
“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.
Describing the abductors as individuals devoid of humanity, Makinde stated: “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 appealed to teachers, workers, students and residents to maintain confidence in government and security agencies, saying extensive operations have been ongoing since the incident.
“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,” he said.
According to him, security personnel deployed from the Federal Government have remained on the ground for weeks pursuing leads.
“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.
Makinde warned against actions capable of emboldening criminal elements, adding, “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.”
Offering his strongest assurance yet since the abduction, the governor declared: “I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers, by the grace of God, will return safely.”
He further stressed that insecurity threatens every aspect of development and governance, noting, “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.“
While acknowledging concerns raised by teachers over safety, Makinde said government remained committed to ending the ordeal.
“We will ensure that we continue to put in all the efforts to bring our children back and their teachers,” he pledged.
The governor also invited stakeholders to contribute ideas towards strengthening the state’s long-term 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,“ he said.
Earlier, Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, said teachers across the state were living in fear following the attack which reportedly involved four schools and left one teacher dead.
“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 him, “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 disclosed 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 state NUT chairman urged the state government to intensify efforts towards securing the release of the victims.
“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.“
“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.”
He further demanded stronger security around educational institutions, stating, “We are demanding that the security architecture of the state be improved in such a way that our schools will be safe for teaching and learning to properly take place.“
“Our schools should not be subject to further attacks. Our teachers should not be further attacked. We say a verdict no to further kidnappings of our teachers as well as our students.”
Declaring the union’s position, he added: “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 Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kayode Martins, warned that insecurity had become a nationwide threat transcending any profession or social class.
“Beyond being a worker, I want to talk as a citizen of this country.“
“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,” Matins said.
He painted a grim picture of the country’s security situation, lamenting, “Either you are in khaki, you are a security officer, or you are a political office holder; in Nigeria today no life is safe.“
The labour leader argued that the attack was intended to undermine the peace and stability for which Oyo State had become known.
“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 said.
Martins stressed that labour would support all efforts aimed at rescuing the victims, assuring, “We will give you all that it takes to redeem our state.“
Drawing parallels with previous high-profile kidnappings, he warned against complacency.
“We will not fold our hands and allow the same thing to repeat itself. Those in captivity are wives, husbands and children of one household or the other.”
He reminded the government that the protection of citizens remains its primary obligation.
“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,” he said.
Making an emotional appeal, Martins added: “We are pleading and some of us are bleeding that something should be done in time. We are bleeding, we are crying, we are begging.”
Leading the students’ delegation, NANS President Babatunde Akinteye, said students across the country had mobilised in solidarity with the abducted pupils and teachers.
“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 said.
He described the abductors as “enemies of the nation” and called for collective action to defeat terrorism and criminality.
“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,” he stated.
Akinteye explained that NANS deliberately chose advocacy over disruptive demonstrations to avoid undermining ongoing 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,” he said.
“But at a time like this, our priority and interest should be the release of our students.”
He emphasised the need for cooperation among all tiers of government, adding, “It is time for government at all levels to work together, even to the level of local government, to make sure that our people return back to classes peacefully and completely without losing any life.”
The NANS president pledged support for all measures aimed at securing the victims’ freedom, noting, “We are standing by every movement, every decision and every process that will bring back our students and the teachers that were kidnapped.”
