‎Makinde Links Oyo School Abduction to Hours After 2027 Presidential Declaration

Oyo State Governor and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, has revealed that the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area occurred less than 24 hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Makinde made the disclosure on Friday while addressing a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the APM in Bauchi.

‎Reflecting on the incident, the governor noted that Oyo State had enjoyed seven years without a similar school abduction before the May 15 attack.

‎“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 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted,” Makinde said.

Hours after his remarks, the Presidency announced the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity.

‎According to the Presidency, the victims were freed during a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force.

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The operation reportedly led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, who are now in DSS custody, while several others were neutralised.

The Presidency also stated that no ransom was paid and no negotiation took place with the abductors, despite their demand for the release of one of their detained leaders, who is currently facing prosecution.

Reacting to the development, Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the military, the police, the DSS, and other security agencies for securing the victims’ freedom.

He described the rescue as a major relief for the affected families and residents of Oyo State, saying it ended weeks of uncertainty following the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

‎President Tinubu also commended the security agencies for carrying out the operation without collateral damage and directed relevant emergency agencies to collaborate with the Oyo State Government in providing medical care, counselling, and other support services for the rescued victims.

‎Punch report that Makinde had formally declared his 2027 presidential ambition on May 14 during a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan, where he pledged to “reset Nigeria.” He later emerged as the APM’s presidential candidate after being adopted as the party’s consensus flag bearer.

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