Fayose Questions Oyo Government’s Handling of School Abduction, Alleges Political Motive
By Linda Toby Jackson
E-ISSN:2354-4481
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has raised concerns over the handling of the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in parts of Oyo State, alleging that political considerations may have influenced the government's response to the incident.
Fayose made the remarks during a television interview, where he questioned the actions taken by the Oyo State Government following the kidnapping, an incident that attracted national attention and heightened concerns over security in educational institutions.
The abduction occurred on Friday when armed men reportedly kidnapped pupils and teachers in some local government areas of Oyo State, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for urgent intervention by security agencies.
In response to the incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed a high-level federal delegation to the affected communities and assured residents that efforts were being intensified to secure the safe release of the victims.
Commenting on the development, Fayose argued that state governments bear significant responsibility for addressing security challenges within their jurisdictions and should be held accountable for their initial response to such incidents.
According to him, effective governance requires all levels of government to play their respective roles before attributing responsibility to the Federal Government.
Fayose further alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde did not respond swiftly enough to the abduction, claiming that attention was initially focused on political activities before engagement with affected families and communities.
He expressed the view that the timing and handling of the incident raised questions that deserved public scrutiny, while acknowledging that his position remained a personal opinion.
The former governor also suggested that the incident may have been exploited for political purposes, alleging that it could have been used to cast the Federal Government in a negative light amid ongoing political developments.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Seyi Makinde nor the Oyo State Government had issued an official response to the allegations made by Fayose.
Meanwhile, the abduction has continued to generate reactions from political stakeholders, civil society groups, and security experts, many of whom have called for stronger measures to improve security around schools and prevent future attacks on students and educators.
The incident has renewed national discussions on school safety, intergovernmental collaboration on security matters, and the need for sustained efforts to address insecurity across the country.
