Tension broke out on Saturday in parts of Abuja as a group of pro-President Bola Tinubu supporters staged a protest near a commercial bank, drawing attention to the ongoing abduction of 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The demonstrators accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of politicising the tragedy and deliberately linking the situation to national political ambitions.
The protesters insisted that the abducted victims—some of them as young as two years old—were taken during a violent attack on May 15, 2026, when armed men on motorcycles stormed the schools.
One teacher was killed during the invasion. Despite intensified security operations, including surveillance efforts by the Nigerian Air Force around the Old Oyo National Park axis, the victims are still in captivity.
Authorities have continued search-and-rescue operations, but there has been no official breakthrough reported.
During the protest, the group carried placards and openly defended President Tinubu while directing criticism at Governor Makinde.
One of the most repeated chants was: “We Love President Tinubu, Because you want to be President, you hid our children, allow President Tinubu to work” – Pro Tinubu group stages counter protests in Abuja, faults Gov Makinde, & claims he kidnapped kids over presidential ambition
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