‘Oyo Pupils, Teachers Were Abducted Hours After I Declared Presidential Ambition’ – Makinde

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said his administration is still working with relevant security agencies to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted in the state on May 15.

Naija News reports that Makinde spoke on Friday after a closed-door meeting with his Bauchi State counterpart and APM leader, Bala Mohammed, at the Government House, Bauchi.

The governor described the incident as the first major security breach recorded in Oyo State after several years of relative peace.

Makinde said the abduction occurred only hours after he formally declared his intention to contest the presidency.

He said, “The insecurity you mentioned happened on May 15. For several years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State.

“I declared to run for the presidency at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted. We’re still dealing with all of this. Yes, we may have to do more, and we’re trying to do more.”

The governor acknowledged that additional measures were needed to strengthen security and bring the victims home safely.

He, however, maintained that state governments would continue to face limitations in responding to security emergencies unless they were granted the authority required to match the responsibilities placed on them.