Makinde Visits Community of Abducted Oyo Pupils, Vows to Bring Them Home

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday visited the Ahoro-Esiele community in the Ibarapa area, where armed abductors last week carted away nursery and primary school pupils along with their teachers. The governor, visibly touched by the anguish of the families, assured them that security agencies were working round the clock to secure the safe return of all victims.

The abduction, which has sent shockwaves across the nation, involved young children from a local nursery and primary school — a development the governor described as unprecedented and deeply disturbing.

A Community in Mourning

Governor Makinde was received by distraught parents and community leaders who have been living in fear since the incident. Several mothers broke down in tears as the governor addressed them, pleading for swift action to reunite them with their children.

In his remarks, Makinde expressed solidarity with the families and condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

“This is unprecedented in the history of our state. To abduct nursery school pupils — children who are just beginning their lives — is a level of depravity we cannot and will not tolerate. I am here to tell you that we have not rested. Security agencies are working tirelessly, and we will not stop until every single child and teacher is back home safely,” Makinde said.

The governor, who was accompanied by top security officials and members of his cabinet, disclosed that a multi-agency search and rescue operation had been activated and that intelligence-led operations were ongoing.

Security Boost for Oyo Communities

Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, Makinde announced measures to boost security across vulnerable communities in the state. These include the deployment of additional police and military personnel to border areas, improved surveillance infrastructure, and the establishment of a rapid-response mechanism for distress calls.

The abduction has reignited national outrage over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom have become a recurring nightmare for schools, rural communities, and even urban centers. The Oyo incident is particularly shocking because of the tender age of the victims.

Governor Makinde urged parents not to lose hope and called on anyone with useful information to come forward.

“These children are not just statistics. They are our future. And we will bring them back,” he said firmly before departing the community.