Makinde recalls school abduction after presidential declaration as rescued victims regain freedom.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has recounted the sequence of events surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, revealing that he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election at 4 p.

m., while the kidnapping occurred by 9 a.m. the following day.
Speaking on Friday during a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement, Makinde said Oyo State had enjoyed seven years of relative peace before the incident. He noted that shortly after announcing his presidential ambition, pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire were abducted.
The May 15 attack threw families and residents into weeks of uncertainty. Hours after Makinde made the remarks in Bauchi, the Presidency announced that all the victims had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
According to the Presidency, the victims regained their freedom through a joint operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and taken into DSS custody, while others were neutralised during the operation. The Presidency also stated that no negotiations or prisoner exchange took place despite the abductors’ demand for the release of one of their detained leaders who is currently facing prosecution.
Reacting to the development, Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the military, the police, the DSS, and other security agencies for securing the release of the victims. He described the rescue as “a big relief” for the affected families and the people of Oyo State, saying it ended weeks of fear and anxiety.
President Tinubu also praised the security agencies for rescuing the pupils and teachers without collateral damage. He directed emergency response agencies to collaborate with the Oyo State Government in providing medical care and other necessary support for the rescued victims.
Makinde had formally declared his 2027 presidential ambition on May 14 during a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan, where he said his goal was to “reset Nigeria.”
While the governor did not directly link his declaration to the abduction, he observed that the timing of the two events was difficult to ignore. With the successful rescue operation, the pupils and teachers have reunited with their families, bringing relief to the state after weeks of uncertainty.