IBADAN — Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has described the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area as a clear sign of a major gap in intelligence. He made the remarks on Saturday as public anger over the attack grew.
Armed bandits stormed communities in Oriire on Friday and abducted an unknown number of pupils. Security agencies launched a search operation. As of Sunday, details on the number of children taken remain sketchy.
Makinde did not hold back. He warned residents against hiding security information from law enforcement. “This incident exposed a major gap in intelligence gathering and information sharing,” Makinde said at a security briefing.
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The governor urged community leaders, teachers, and parents to report suspicious activity immediately. He said citizens have a duty to support security agencies with timely and accurate information.
APC Fires Back
However, the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State used the incident to attack Makinde’s government. APC leaders described the abduction as another proof of the state government’s failure to secure lives and property.
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In addition, the party called on the governor to take personal responsibility for the security situation. APC spokesperson Olawale Sadare urged Makinde to stop blaming residents and instead fix the intelligence system under his watch.
Makinde’s administration has faced repeated criticism over insecurity in rural Oyo State. Farmers in several local government areas have complained about attacks by armed groups over the past year.
A National Pattern
The Oriire abduction fits a troubling national pattern. Nigeria has seen a surge in school abductions since the Chibok kidnapping of 2014. Mass kidnappings in Zamfara, Kaduna, and other northern states have claimed hundreds of victims in recent years.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the issue in a statement Saturday. He expressed concern over what he called the normalisation of violence in Nigeria. “Many citizens have become desensitised to bloodshed,” Jonathan said.
Security forces and the Oyo State government have not given a full update on rescue efforts as of Sunday morning. Families of the abducted pupils remain in anguish. The National Emergency Management Agency has deployed teams to support affected communities.
