Governor Makinde Calls for Unity Amid Student Kidnapping Crisis
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged Nigerians to refrain from laying blame for the recent kidnapping of students and teachers in the state. Instead, he emphasized the importance of supporting government efforts to secure the safe and swift release of the victims.
On May 15, over 40 students and seven teachers from three schools in Akolo-Esinere and Yawota villages, located in the Oriile Local Government Area, were abducted. This incident has raised significant concerns about safety in educational institutions.
Speaking to protesters in Ibadan on Tuesday, which included members from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Makinde expressed his personal anguish over the situation. He reflected on his father’s teaching tenure at Ahoro Dada Primary School during 1959/60, close to where the kidnapping occurred.
“If such an event had transpired while I was in that school, I might never have been born,” he remarked, highlighting the deep emotional impact of these events. He called for solidarity, stating that now is not the time for assigning blame to the president, governors, or local officials who might be expected to address such security challenges.
Makinde emphasized the urgency of coming together to confront this crisis, characterizing the criminals involved as formidable adversaries. He noted that federal security forces have been actively involved in the state for the past two weeks, meeting regularly to coordinate rescue operations.
“I urge the teachers, workers, and students to have faith in the government’s commitment; we are making every effort possible,” Makinde reassured the crowd. He cautioned against actions that could exacerbate existing divisions, urging unity in a time of crisis.
The governor also expressed his determination that the abducted students and teachers would return safely. In response to the NUT’s decision regarding school closures, he stated that teachers are free to choose their path, while reiterating the government’s commitment to working collaboratively with local and federal authorities to ensure the safety of all students and educators.
Makinde invited public input on long-term security reforms post-rescue, encouraging citizens to share their ideas to enhance the state’s safety measures. Earlier, NANS National Chairman Akintoye Babatunde and NUT State Chairman Hassan Fatai echoed calls for immediate government action to expedite the safe return of the affected individuals.
Babatunde condemned the rising incidents of robbery and kidnapping nationwide, expressing solidarity with the government’s efforts against banditry. Meanwhile, Fatai voiced concerns regarding teachers’ increasing fear, urging the government to bolster state security structures to protect schools effectively.
The abduction incident in Oriile LGA has ignited widespread protests from students, civil society organizations, and labor groups, both locally and nationally. Demonstrators are calling for urgent government intervention to secure the release of the children and teachers who have been held captive since May 15.
