The Oyo State Government has denied allegations by social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, that it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the claim as false, misleading and capable of undermining ongoing rescue efforts.
The government insisted that no ransom had been paid to the abductors, contrary to claims made by the activist in a viral video.
VeryDarkMan had earlier alleged that the Oyo State Government secretly negotiated with the kidnappers and paid ransom to facilitate the release of some of the abducted pupils and their teachers.
He claimed the government was not being truthful about how the victims regained their freedom, alleging that official denials were aimed at concealing the payment.
The activist’s comments sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the state’s handling of the abduction and the circumstances surrounding the rescue operation.
However, reacting in a statement on Friday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, dismissed the allegations, insisting they were baseless.
He accused what he described as “irresponsible bloggers” of deliberately spreading falsehoods to mislead the public and create confusion at a time security agencies were intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
“The claim that the Oyo State Government paid ransom to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers is far from the truth,” the statement read.
“It is the handiwork of irresponsible bloggers whose intention is to create confusion and misinform the public.
“Although the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government have been making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted children and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly.”
Oyelade stressed that the rescue operation was being coordinated through legitimate security channels in collaboration with the Federal Government and relevant security agencies.
He urged residents to disregard reports suggesting that ransom had been paid, warning that the circulation of unverified information could jeopardise ongoing security operations and fuel unnecessary panic.
The commissioner also appealed to the public to rely only on official government communications for updates on the incident.
He reaffirmed the Makinde administration’s commitment to securing the safe release of all the abductees and ensuring those behind the attack are brought to justice.
The latest rebuttal comes amid heightened public interest in the abduction case, with the state government maintaining that security agencies remain on the trail of the kidnappers and that efforts to secure the victims’ freedom are continuing without any ransom payment.
While VeryDarkMan alleged that the Oyo State Government paid ransom to the abductors, the state government has categorically denied the claim.
PLATFORM TIMES could not independently verify the activist’s allegation at the time of filing this report.
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