For Seven Years, Oyo Never Witnessed School Kidnapping Until I Declared to Run Against Tinubu in 2027 — Makinde

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

Makinde made the remark on Friday while addressing a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Bauchi.

According to the governor, Oyo State had not experienced any school kidnapping throughout his seven years in office until the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

“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.

His comments came hours before the Presidency announced the rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity.

In a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu said the victims were rescued during a coordinated operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the statement, eight suspected abductors were arrested and are currently in DSS custody, while several others were neutralised during the operation. The Presidency added that the victims were rescued without any negotiation or exchange, despite reports that the abductors had demanded the release of one of their detained kingpins.

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

"It is such a big relief for all of us. Just right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much," the governor said.

Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14 during a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan, where he said he intended to "reset Nigeria."

He later emerged as the presidential candidate of the APM after contesting the party's primary as its consensus candidate.