Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday called for a coordinated national response to insecurity, urging Nigerians to set aside partisan interests and support efforts aimed at securing the release of abducted students and teachers in the state.
Makinde made the appeal while addressing protesters led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. The protesters had converged on the Governor’s Office to demand the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The governor assured residents that security agencies were working round the clock to secure the release of the victims, appealing for patience and public cooperation. “This is a period of national distress. It is not the time to trade blame or play politics. We must all come together and confront those threatening our collective peace and security,” Makinde said.
He noted that insecurity remained a challenge requiring the collaboration of all levels of government and citizens, stressing that the safety of the abducted students and teachers remained a top priority.
Expressing personal concern over the incident, the governor recalled that his late father served as a primary school teacher in Ahoro Dada, a community located a few kilometres from where the abduction occurred. “I am personally distressed by this incident. My father taught in that area between 1959 and 1960. If he had been kidnapped then, perhaps I would not be standing here today as governor,” he said.
Makinde described the perpetrators as enemies of society and urged Nigerians to unite against criminal elements seeking to undermine the country’s stability.
Earlier, NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, said students across the federation had mobilised in solidarity with the abducted victims and their families. According to him, all structures of the association across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were represented at the protest to demand the immediate release of the students and teachers. He described the abductors as “monsters” and called for a collective national effort to defeat insecurity. “Our priority is the safe return of the abducted students and teachers. We are ready to partner with government and all relevant stakeholders to ensure they regain their freedom,” he said.
Also speaking, Oyo State Chairman of the NUT, Fatai Hassan, said teachers across the state were traumatised by the incident and demanded urgent action from government. “We are here to sympathise with our people over this unfortunate incident. Teachers are now living in fear. Government must fast-track the rescue of the victims and strengthen the state’s security architecture to prevent a recurrence,” he said. Hassan maintained that teachers would continue to withdraw classroom services until the abducted teachers and pupils were rescued.
Similarly, Oyo State NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, said the abduction was not only an attack on teachers and students but on the entire nation. He warned against a repeat of the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, insisting that government must fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property. “We are pleading for the safe release of our students and teachers. We cannot fold our arms and allow this tragedy to become another national embarrassment,” Martins said.
Following the protest, student leaders proceeded to the affected communities to visit the schools and families of the abducted victims in a show of solidarity. The abduction has continued to generate concern among residents and stakeholders, with growing calls for intensified security measures to protect schools and vulnerable communities across the state.
