₦airaland Forum

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday said the abduction of pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area occurred just hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Makinde made the remark while addressing a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi, recalling that Oyo had not recorded a similar incident during his seven years in office 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 Makinde’s remarks in Bauchi, the Presidency announced that all the victims had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.

The Presidency said the victims were freed during a joint operation involving the military, the Department of State Services and the police, with eight suspected kidnappers arrested and others neutralised.

According to the Presidency, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and are currently in DSS custody, while several others were neutralised during the operation.

The Presidency also said there was no negotiation or exchange to secure the victims’ release despite the abductors’ demand for the release of one of their detained kingpins, who is currently facing prosecution.

Following the rescue, Makinde expressed relief and thanked the President, the military, the police, the DSS and other security agencies for securing the victims’ freedom.

The governor described the rescue as “a big relief” for the families of the victims and the people of Oyo State, saying the successful operation brought an end to weeks of anxiety after the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire.

Tinubu also commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage and directed emergency agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical care and other support for the rescued pupils and teachers.

Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14 at a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, where he announced his ambition to “reset Nigeria.”

He subsequently emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement at the party’s primary later that month after running as its consensus candidate.

I declared to run for the presidency at 4 pm, and by 9 am the following morning, children were abducted in Oyo State.

- Governor Seyi Makinde spoke this afternoon during a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed and APM leaders in Bauchi State pic.twitter.com/H71LCjU4iJ

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) July 10, 2026

yarimo:
From indication how makinde was speaking he knows something about this school kidnapping

AMINDA:
Really? Tell us more. Seyi has put his traducers to shame. His presidential ambition is still very much on track, no matter the machinations against him. Contesting for president is not a crime and if Tinubu can, Seyi Makinde also can.

Counterigbolies:
only u people from that side believe seyi is contesting for president

We yorubas n oyo state people know the plan but u people can run along n hold on to the propaganda till u get tired of it

Who is seyi makinde VP self?

When Chibok happened, it was the fault of President Jonathan. They went all over the world asking Jonathan to bring back the children. But when the Oyo State abduction happened, they said it was the irresponsibility of the state governor and the state government.

- Governor Seyi… https://t.co/qSpf8WNn0e pic.twitter.com/esebQmiEzi

— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) July 10, 2026

AMINDA:
Really? Tell us more. Seyi has put his traducers to shame. His presidential ambition is still very much on track, no matter the machinations against him. Contesting for president is not a crime and if Tinubu can, Seyi Makinde also can.

Amotolongbo:
So you think that kidnapping activity of such magnitude, school to attack, place to keep the victims and logistics can be planned and executed within 24 hours?
Since Peter Obi has said Seyi Makinde told him that the president hasn’t called him on the school kidnapping in his state, then I knew it’s a matter of time Makinde will start thinking and talking like Peter Obi. Just want to make himself a victim of everything for sympathy.

Please don’t use such a reasoning faculty to hustle for daily 2k o 😆

Gotocourt:
With the right money and network of criminals. 2 seconds too much.

Amotolongbo:
So you think that kidnapping activity of such magnitude, school to attack, place to keep the victims and logistics can be planned and executed within 24 hours?
Since Peter Obi has said Seyi Makinde told him that the president hasn’t called him on the school kidnapping in his state, then I knew it’s a matter of time Makinde will start thinking and talking like Peter Obi. Just want to make himself a victim of everything for sympathy.

Please don’t use such a reasoning faculty to hustle for daily 2k o 😆

Counterigbolies:
only u people from that side believe seyi is contesting for president

We yorubas n oyo state people know the plan but u people can run along n hold on to the propaganda till u get tired of it

Who is seyi makinde VP self?

AMINDA:
It was visible to the blind long before now that Seyi Makinde had presidential ambition. All the efforts by the Obio Akpor Ghengis Khan to "hold down" the PDP even after Atiku left was all to prevent Seyi Makinde from clinching the PDP ticket. Nigerians are well aware that there's no limit to their desperation in holding onto power.

esnbrutality:
Keep quiet abeg...

Everybody is IGBO to you. Even if your spouse disagrees with your political alignment, they become IGBOs to you. Nonsense

Counterigbolies:
we know the hateful people

yarimo:
From indication how makinde was speaking he knows something about this school kidnapping

Counterigbolies:
only u people from that side believe seyi is contesting for president

We yorubas n oyo state people know the plan but u people can run along n hold on to the propaganda till u get tired of it

Who is seyi makinde VP self?

Amotolongbo:
Thieves wey dey rob banks self, it takes them days to execute 😆

yarimo:
From indication how makinde was speaking he knows something about this school kidnapping