By Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed the killing of one of the abducted school teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area, while also assuring residents that rescue operations have been intensified to rescue the remaining teachers and yet-to-be accounted number of pupils.
In a press briefing on Sunday, he noted that during the rescue operation, some of security operatives ran into Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that left some of them injured, pledging that the government will take responsibility for their full recovery.
While speaking, Makinde confirmed that one of the teachers, a mathematics teacher, has been killed by the kidnappers. In a video obtained by AfrikTimes, the deceased introduced himself as Oyedokun M.O, a teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-esinele. His body was thereafter decapitated, with his head and wrists detached from his body.
“We just finished a review of the security situation in the local government area where the abduction of some teachers and schoolchildren took place.
“First, let me appeal to the families that are involved that their government is working round the clock to ensure that we tackle this challenge. And, for our troops and our service commanders, we have a few wounded soldiers and hunters and other operatives. They are recovering.
“The government will continue to take responsibility for ensuring that they fully recover and look after their medical bills.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers in all were abducted. And, unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand the Maths teacher, was killed by the terrorists this morning. Of course, our prayers are with the family,” he said.
Makinded added that the government is exploring all moves to rescue the abducted safely, while also disclosing that about six individuals suspected to be connected with the case have been arrested within the locality. However, he admitted that the situation is challenging as there may not be instant resolutions.
“I want to appeal to everybody; citizens, residents, particularly those in Oriire Local Government and the rest of Oyo State that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that we resolve this situation quickly and bring our children back safely. But we must recognise that it is a very difficult and challenging situation.
“So, please, there may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to endeavour to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly.”
“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them, we believe, are perhaps informants or people running logistics for the terrorists. Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested by another security outfit within the state,” he added.
The governor further mentioned that there is an ongoing collaboration between Oyo and Kwara State governments to mount pressure on the bandits and prevent any influx of terrorists into the state
“We must appreciate the fact that with the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West and the North-East, they will keep moving southwards. So, we are talking. The governor of Kwara State has spoken to me but the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to also either repel or neutralize any terrorists that are fleeing the pressure point,” the governor added.
He further added that the government will tighten vulnerable points within the state and monitor movements. He promised that there will be daily briefings from the government to provide updates regarding the progress made from the rescue operation.
