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The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, has assured parents of all abducted students that they will be rescued.
On Sunday, Lawal led a government delegation on a condolence visit to communities in Oriire Local Government Area affected by Friday’s school abduction.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, revealed this in a statement on Sunday made accessible to newsmen in Ibadan. Oyelade said that the delegation visited Yawota and Esiele in Oriire South, where armed men attacked several schools and abducted students and staff members.
The commissioner said the team also met with families of the victims and assured them of the state’s commitment to securing the safe release of those abducted.
According to the statement, the deputy governor, during the visit, stated that the state government under Governor Seyi Makinde had responded swiftly since the incident happened, adding that security agencies had engaged the suspected kidnappers in the bush, leading to the neutralisation of about three of them.
“We have pacified the residents and given assurances that those abducted will be rescued and brought back,” Lawal told journalists after visiting victims at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Bowen University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.
According to Lawal, the attackers targeted Esiele and Yawota around Ahorodada, abducting pupils and staff from LA Basic School, Ahoro Esiele, Community High School, and a private primary school.
He said the state immediately deployed logistical and operational support to aid security agencies in responding and to ensure injured victims received treatment. However, the incident showed that bandits were operating close to communities, specifically along the fringes of forest reserves.
The Deputy Governor said the government will continue to strengthen the security architecture in vulnerable areas, including Saki West, Saki East, Irepo, Iseyin, Ibarapa, Igbeti, and Oriire.
“We are asking residents to remain vigilant. If you notice any unusual movement, report it to security agencies so that prompt action can be taken,” he said. He said that the figure of those abducted had not been established, and the figures circulating in the media are incorrect.
“Until we do proper verification, we cannot put a figure to those abducted. For now, figures circulating in the media cannot be taken as correct,” Lawal said.
Lawal confirmed that one person and one teacher lost their lives in the attack.
