Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has revealed that the abduction of 39 pupils and five teachers in Oriire Local Government Area was the first of its kind in the state during his seven years in office, occurring barely hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking days after the victims were rescued alive following 56 days in captivity, Makinde tied the incident to a broader conversation about Nigeria’s deteriorating security and the need for a “national reset” if given the chance to lead the country.
“For Seven Years, We Didn’t Witness Anything Like This”
At a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi, Makinde reflected on Oyo’s security record under his administration.“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.
He repeated the timeline during another engagement, noting: “I have been on this job for seven years and about two months. The insecurity you mentioned happened barely two months ago. For several years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State. I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted”.
The abduction occurred on May 15, when gunmen struck three schools in Oriire communities of Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa. It was the first mass school abduction recorded in Oyo since Makinde assumed office in 2019.The governor described the crime as unprecedented in scope, stating: “There is nowhere in Nigeria where we have seen this sort of situation where nursery primary school pupils are kidnapped”.
Rescue After 56 Days: No Ransom, No Negotiation
The victims were freed on July 12 following a coordinated operation by the military, DSS and Police. The Presidency confirmed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while several others were neutralized. Crucially, security agencies did not negotiate with the abductors or release any detained kingpin in exchange for the victims, despite the kidnappers’ demands.
Makinde’s administration described the outcome as a vindication of its refusal to pay ransom. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the government resisted “intense pressure to embrace what it described as a ‘quick-fix’ solution by paying ransom,” arguing that such payments would “only encourage criminality, strengthen kidnapping syndicates and fuel further attacks”.Following the rescue, Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the military, police and DSS for securing the victims’ freedom, describing it as “a big relief” that ended weeks of anxiety for families and residents.
From State Crisis to National Ambition
Makinde officially declared his intention to run for president in 2027 on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement at a mega-rally in Ibadan. “The time to reset Nigeria is now. Therefore, today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announce my candidacy for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Linking his ambition to the Oriire incident, the governor said Nigeria needs a fresh approach to governance and security. “We cannot continue recycling the same approaches while expecting different outcomes. A new direction must emerge, one founded on competence, courage, accountability and compassion,” Makinde declared.
He promised that if elected, decentralization would be central to his security agenda. “As President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of God, I will work to reform our national security architecture so that states are no longer left helpless in moments of crisis,” he said.“The decentralisation necessary for more effective security management will be prioritised. The safety and security of Nigerians will never be treated as a political slogan,” Makinde added.
Calls for Rehabilitation and Systemic Change
With the victims now safe and undergoing medical observation for 48 hours, Makinde said the state’s immediate focus is rehabilitation and family reunification. “Our priority now is to ensure they are reunited with their families and support their rehabilitation after this traumatic experience,” he stated.
The governor also used the moment to call for unity against insecurity. “Security is a collective responsibility. At moments like this, we must stand together as one people, support our security institutions and reject every attempt to divide us. Unity, vigilance and cooperation remain our strongest weapons against criminality,” he said.
Political leaders across party lines commended the rescue. Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun said the operation “demonstrated that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there will be no safe haven for criminal elements”.
However, critics like Peter Obi questioned federal response times, alleging that President Tinubu had not called Makinde more than 50 days after the abduction.
A Warning and a Pledge
For Makinde, the Oriire abduction represents both a personal test and a national warning. He noted that while Oyo had enjoyed years of relative peace, the incident shows how quickly insecurity can escalate.The governor warned that adapting to such crimes normalizes them. “Each generation of Nigerians seems condemned to witness a fresh escalation of the unimaginable… When insecurity becomes ordinary, society begins to lose not only its safety but also its moral sensitivity”.
As Oyo begins the process of healing, Makinde’s message is clear: the state’s seven-year record of relative calm was broken, but his administration will not normalize ransom payments or helplessness. Instead, he is positioning the Oriire experience as the reason Nigeria needs urgent security reforms, and why he is seeking the presidency in 2027.
