Oyo Abduction: We’re In Talks With Terrorists Says Makinde, Vows Safe Return Of Victims

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed that his administration is engaging in discussions with the kidnappers of schoolchildren, teachers and a school principal abducted in the state, insisting that the victims are still alive and will be rescued safely.

Makinde made the disclosure on Tuesday while addressing protesters, including social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The governor said that although negotiating with bandits is not a step he would ordinarily support, the government has been forced to adopt extraordinary measures because of the delicate nature of the abduction involving nursery and primary school children.

According to him, apart from the teacher who was beheaded in captivity, as seen in a graphic video released by the terrorists, there is no information suggesting that any of the abducted children or the remaining teachers have died, despite having spent more than a month in captivity.

He said, “Because of the nature of the security situation at this moment, I cannot divulge a lot of information. But I can tell you that there’s no information that any of those children or their teachers have died. That’s certain.

“And because it is a rescue operation, and this is the first time they’ve done it to nursery and primary schoolchildren… This is the first time. And these are children that cannot even run or do anything for themselves.

“So the operation to rescue them is a special type of operation if we don’t want to lose any of those children.”

Makinde explained that security operations are not solely under the control of state governors, noting that actions involving the police and military require approvals from their respective authorities.

“Go to XYZ, he will need to get approval from the Inspector General of Police. The same thing with the military,” he said.

The governor recalled that security had been one of the cardinal pillars of his administration, leading to the establishment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun.

“However, when I came in, security was one of the cardinal principles of the administration. That’s why we set up Amotekun.

“Amotekun has not been armed adequately, but that is our reality.”

Makinde expressed personal anguish over the prolonged captivity of the children, saying he could relate to the pain of the victims’ families because he also has children.

“However, let me give you the assurance that I am also distressed because I have children of my own. I’m also distressed with what has happened to our children, and it has been one month,” he said.

“It was one month yesterday, one month and one day already now.”

The governor assured residents that every effort was being made to secure the release of the abductees alive.

“I give you the assurance that I, as the governor of Oyo State, by God’s grace, we will bring out those our children. They are talking to us,” he said.

“It’s not something I would normally do. If government starts negotiating with bandits, it means we’re surrendering sovereignty to the bandits.

“But in this special situation, if we want those children alive, we have to bend backwards.”

Makinde further pledged that once the children regain their freedom, stronger measures would be implemented to ensure such an incident never happens again in Oyo State.

“But once the children are out, I give you the assurance that it will not occur again in Oyo State,” he said.

Responding to VeryDarkMan’s reference to the April 2014 abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State and his warning that the Oyo State Government must act swiftly to prevent a similar outcome, Makinde assured residents that the situation in the state would not follow the same trajectory.

“Oyo State is not Chibok. We will do everything humanly possible to bring our children back,” Makinde assured VeryDarkMan and other protesters.

The governor lamented the wider impact of insecurity on education, agriculture and economic activities, arguing that Nigerians do not deserve to live under such conditions.

“And as for Nigeria, I believe we don’t deserve this. In an atmosphere of insecurity, hardly can you do anything.

“We have to close down the schools. The farmers in those neighbourhoods, they have all left the farm, and we’re talking about food security. So that is our situation.”

Makinde also commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the demonstration and appealed to them not to allow violence or destruction of property.

He said, “But please and please and please, I beg of you. We’ve been monitoring you since you started this morning.

“You have not destroyed anything. You have gone about the protest in a civilized manner.

“Please, let us maintain it that way. Let us maintain it that way, please.”