Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared his readiness to make any sacrifice, including risking his own life, to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said this on Tuesday, June 16, while addressing a group of peaceful protesters led by activist and social commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan.
Responding to the protesters’ request to participate in the rescue operation, Makinde expressed confidence in the security architecture currently deployed, stating that it is capable of securing the safe release of the victims with minimal casualties.
According to the governor, available intelligence indicates that no additional casualties have been recorded among the abductees following the earlier killing of a Mathematics teacher.
Makinde, however, stressed that if it becomes necessary, he will personally volunteer to join the rescue mission despite the risks involved.
He commended the protesters for their peaceful solidarity march, noting that public agitation and civic engagement often spur leaders and security agencies into swift action toward achieving positive outcomes.
Governor Makinde said, “We will do everything humanly possible to bring our children back. And I am not somebody that leads from the back.
“Because of the nature of the security situation, I cannot divulge a lot of information.
“We are doing everything possible, including what you have suggested. We have lost a teacher already. If we can avoid losing more, we will do that.
“But if we get to the point that certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it.
“If I were not in government, I would be protesting also. So, I do not have anything against what you are doing. To have a society where leaders are accountable and inclusive may require agitation, protest, people getting up from their comfort zone to do something like this.
“I will not shift blame, but our reality is that a state government is not in charge of all the security agencies. As the governor of Oyo State, I cannot deploy the CP of Oyo State. If I instruct him to go to a location, he will need to get the final say from the IGP in Abuja. Same thing with the military.
“However, when I came in, security was one of the cardinal points of this administration and that’s why we set up Amotekun. Amotekun has not been armed adequately but that is our reality. I must say that I am distressed with what has happened to our children and it has been one month and one day now.”
Earlier, Martins Vincent Otse said the solidarity walk was organized to support the government’s efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers and reunite them with their families as quickly as possible.
He also pledged to volunteer himself, alongside other youths, to participate in the rescue efforts in Oriire Local Government Area, as part of a broader commitment to tackling the growing menace of kidnapping and banditry across the country.
The Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo; the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); and Chairman, Oyo State Youth Agency and Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, among others, joined the governor to receive the protesters.
