The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state happened less than 24 hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM)..
Makinde said this on Friday when he addressed the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and leaders of the APM in Bauchi.
He recalled that Oyo State had not experienced a similar incident throughout his seven years in office until the May 15, 2026 school abduction.
He said: “For seven years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State.
“I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at four o’clock, and by 9am the following morning, the children were abducted.”
Makinde spoke hours after the Presidency announced that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
According to the Presidency, the victims regained their freedom during a coordinated operation involving the military, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Police Force.
The Oyo State governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces, DSS, police, and other security agencies for securing the victims’ release.
He described the operation as “a big relief” for the affected families and the people of Oyo State, saying it ended weeks of anxiety.
