Ibadan, Oyo State – By Prime Brief Media
Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that the total number of people abducted in Friday's coordinated attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area is 25 students and seven teachers, and he has signalled the government's willingness to negotiate with the kidnappers to secure their release.
Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan on Monday, the governor disclosed that the victims were being held in a remote forest area and that security agencies had established contact with the abductors through intermediaries. "Whatever their demands may be, we are ready to listen. Our priority is to bring our children and their teachers home safely," Makinde said.
The governor's statement came amid heightened anxiety following the release of a video over the weekend showing the beheading of one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, by his captors. The brutal killing sparked national outrage, with President Bola Tinubu vowing that the bandits responsible would face "the full wrath of the law."
Governor Makinde, however, cautioned that while negotiations may offer a path to the victims' release, the government would not negotiate from a position of weakness. "We are ready to talk, but we are also ready to act. All options are on the table," he said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, is said to be personally supervising the rescue operation, with tactical squads and the Intelligence Response Team deployed to Oyo State. The governor appealed for calm and urged the public to provide credible information that could aid the rescue effort.
Prime Brief Media will continue to track security and rescue efforts across the state as this story develops.
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