Makinde meets protesters, assures decisive action on Oriire abduction

By Adejayan Gbenga

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration will take decisive action to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The governor gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing peaceful protesters led by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), who gathered at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan.

Makinde said his government would not succumb to pressure from criminal elements, stressing that efforts were ongoing in collaboration with security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted victims.

He added that the state was prepared to make any necessary sacrifice to secure their release, including personal risk, while insisting that Oyo State would not allow a repeat of past mass abductions such as the Chibok schoolgirls’ incident.

According to him, intelligence reports from security agencies indicated that no additional casualties had been recorded since the killing of a mathematics teacher during the attack.

The governor further disclosed that security operatives were actively coordinating rescue operations, noting that the safety of the abducted pupils and teachers remained the government’s top priority.

Makinde maintained that negotiation with kidnappers was not the preferred option, but assured that the government would take decisive measures in collaboration with security agencies if the situation persisted.

He commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully, describing civic engagement as important in supporting security efforts and ensuring that public concerns are properly addressed.

Earlier, VeryDarkMan said the protest was organised to show solidarity with ongoing rescue efforts while also demanding updates on the status of the abducted pupils and teachers.