Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared on Tuesday that he is prepared to make any sacrifice, including risking his own life, to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area. The governor made this statement while addressing a group of peaceful protesters led by activist and social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan.
Governor's Commitment to Rescue Efforts
Makinde acknowledged the concerns raised by the protesters over the continued captivity of the victims. He said his administration is deploying every available resource to ensure their safe return while maintaining that ongoing security operations are carefully coordinated to minimize casualties. Based on intelligence available to the government, no additional casualty has been recorded among the abductees after the reported killing of a Mathematics teacher shortly after the incident.
The governor stated that although he cannot disclose details of the ongoing rescue efforts for security reasons, the state government remains committed to exhausting all lawful means to secure the victims' freedom. "We will do everything humanly possible to bring our children back. I am not someone who leads from the back," Makinde said. He added: "Because of the nature of the security situation, I cannot divulge much information. We are doing everything possible, including some of the suggestions you have made. We have already lost a teacher, and if we can avoid losing more people, we will do so. But if we get to a point where certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it."
Challenges in Security Operations
Makinde commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully, noting that civic engagement and public advocacy often help draw attention to critical issues and encourage swift responses from authorities. He used the occasion to explain some structural challenges facing state governments in addressing insecurity, stressing that governors do not exercise direct operational control over federal security agencies. According to him, while security remains a priority of his administration, the command structure of agencies such as the police and military limits the extent of authority state governments can wield in operational matters.
He pointed to the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, as part of efforts by his administration to strengthen local security architecture and complement the work of conventional security agencies. Expressing concern over the prolonged captivity of the victims, Makinde said the incident has remained a source of distress to him and the state government.
Protesters' Solidarity
Earlier, Otse said the solidarity walk was organized to support ongoing efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers and reunite them with their families. He pledged his willingness, alongside other concerned youths, to participate in efforts aimed at combating kidnapping and insecurity, while urging authorities to intensify actions towards rescuing the victims.
Also present at the meeting were the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo; the Governor's Executive Assistant on Security, retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya; and Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, among other government officials.
