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FG buys six more attack helicopters as terrorists still hold 39 train passengers

Published

4 years ago

July 26, 2022

Attack Helicopter

The Federal Government has procured six more attack helicopters to enhance the fight against insecurity, just as four more of the remaining 43 kidnapped Kaduna-bound Abuja train passengers abducted in the attack by terrorists on March 28, 2022 have been released, leaving 39 victims still in captivity.

Chief Executive Officer of TUSAS, a Turkish aircraft manufacturer, Mr Temel Kotil, on Monday announced the sale six of T-129 attack helicopters, to Nigeria.

The announcement followed a deal reached with the company by the federal government.

Kotil, who made the announcement on his Twitter handle, however, hinted at the development on CNN Turk.

President Tayipp Edorgan of Turkey recently visited Nigeria and this development may not be unconnected to the visit.

The federal government had recently procured A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets from the United States, even as it had also made similar procurements from Russia and other European countries as the war against insurgency intensifies.

However, Tukur Mamu, who has been negotiating the release of the victims, confirmed thenew development over telephone, saying they were released yesterday.

Mamu did not give details of how they were released, he however, gave names of the four people released as Gladys Brumen, Oluwatoyin Ojo, Hassan Lawan and Pastor Ayodeji Oyewumi.

On Sunday, a video had trended on the social media, showing the terrorists, in a war crime, flogging their victims and threatening to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and the Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others.

Some of the victims, who spoke on in the video, accused the federal government for not doing much to secure their release and therefore appealed for the intervention of the international community to meet the demands of the terrorists for their freedom.

The terrorists had on March 28, attacked an Abuja-Kaduna bound passenger train, killing eight people, injuring several others while 62 of the passengers were abducted.

So far 23 of the victims had been freed with some of them paying millions of naira as ransom.

Abdulfatai Jimoh, coordinator of relations of the abducted passengers did not respond to telephone calls when contacted.

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However, families of the abducted train passengers, yesterday, laid siege to the federal Ministry of Transportation, and consequently grounded activities.

The families hinted that they were at the ministry to find out what the government had been doing to rescue the remaining passengers abducted over four months ago.

One of the family members, Imran Ahmed, whose brother has been in captivity, said they had lost faith in the government’s commitment to rescuing their loved ones.

“We don’t have confidence in the federal government. This is not the first time the federal government is saying they are on top of the situation. If I remember, I have seen the president’s directives on four occasions, directing the security chiefs that they should do whatever is necessary to rescue our family members.

“But you can imagine, today is 121 days that they have been in captivity. This has been very gruesome for family members. Nigerians should understand that we are not here to see the minister. We are here to get our family members from the ministry that they boarded the train to Kaduna,” he said.

In the same vein, Hadiza Mohammad, said it was unfair that after 121 days, the federal government, has not found any meaningful ways of rescuing the remaining victims, and wondered why the people in government, especially, the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, had remained silent.

Also, Aisha Musa, mother of one of the abductees, Hafsat Abdullahi, who is being held captive with her two-year-old child, narrated her ordeal.

“When her children saw the video yesterday, the first son fainted. Now he is in the hospital. When this thing happened, we thought she was dead. We did not hear from them since they said they killed some. We went to Forty-four hospital in Kaduna. They gave us a list of those who were dead and accident victims. She was not among the corpses in the mortuary,” she said.

According to her, It was two days later that the abductors called her husband and spoke to her. That was the day we heard their voices last till today.

At about 11:45 am, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, came to address the protesters, and said he had just resumed office and would require sometime to address the issue.

The minister also requested for the contacts of the affected families and promised to be in communication with them henceforth.

Sambo, while speaking further, said, “My first intention was to hold a dialogue with you and empathise with you. The government is made up of individuals. We have families. We feel for the families of this unfortunate incident.

“I want to tell you, please, give me the opportunity, let me resume in this office. This will be the first matter I am going to tackle by the grace of God. I have asked God to guide me, to lead me in this assignment, and I know God will not fail me and God will not fail Nigeria. You have been very patient. The government itself has not been sleeping from enquiries I have made.

“I took time to come here this morning, because I wanted to get in touch with the right people, who have been handling this issue. There are some things you don’t say in public. I’m sure you appreciate that. But I want to beg for one thing: I have just resumed and I’m going to receive the necessary briefings this morning. I want you to give me time.

“In the meantime, I want contact names and addresses. If you have a formal association with telephone numbers that I can reach, I can assure you that we are going to be in constant engagement until this matter is sorted out, until every single person in captivity goes back home to his family members.”

Military Beefs Up Security Around Bwari Campus Law School, FG Closes FGC, Kwali

The Nigeria Army, has tightened security around the Nigerian Law School, Bwari Campus, Abuja, in the wake of the increasing wave of insecurity that pervaded the FCT over the weekend.

This development followed directives by the FCT Education Secretariat and the FCT All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (FCT -ANCOPSS) that no school in the FCT should open tomorrow, July, 27, 2022.

Heavily armed soldiers were observed assuming strategic positions around the Law School on Sunday evening as a precautionary security measure in the light of the sporadic shooting over the weekend at Sheda Village by suspected bandits that prompted the Federal Ministry of Education to order the immediate closure of the Federal Government College, Kwali, FCT.

The development created panic which prompted security to be beefed up in other unity schools in Bwari, Apo, Rubochi and Abaji. As a result of the development, many fear-stricken parents have been rushing to the schools to withdraw their wards from the boarding schools.

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In the same vein, the FCT ANCOPSS has directed that no school in the FCT should open tomorrow, July 27 in compliance with the directive of the FCT UBEB Management that all Junior Secondary schools must finish exams today, July, 26, 2022.

To that effect, the announcer, Secretary, FCT ANCOPSS, said subject teachers were to use CAs to complete the theory or essay parts of the exams as only objective questions should be administered. He said no school should open on Wednesday, 27th July, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who ordered the closure of Federal Government College, Kwali, said the closure became necessary following security breach on Sheda and Lambata Villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council which also threatened FGC Kwali.

The unity college is located in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In a statement by the director of media and public relations, Mr. Ben Bem Goong, the minister said the timely intervention of security Agencies saved the situation, adding that the minister also gave a directive for arrangements to be made for final year students to conclude their NECO examinations.

“The Minister has also directed principals of Unity Colleges across the country to liaise with security agencies within their jurisdictions inorder to forestall any security breach in our schools,” he said.

Terrorists Wound Three Soldiers in Abuja

The Brigade of Guards charged with the security of President Muhammadu Buhari, his family and the nation’s capital, confirmed yesterday that three soldiers were wounded during an ambush by terrorists along Kubwa-Bwari Road in the outskirts of the city.

Spokesperson of the Guards Brigade, Captain Godfrey Anebi Abakpa, said the soldiers were ambushed along the Kubwa-Bwari Road, adding that, three soldiers were wounded and and hospitalised while the attack was repelled.

“Troops on routine patrol along Kubwa–Bwari were ambushed by suspected terrorists. Three soldiers were injured during the attack. The soldiers have been evacuated for medical attention,” he said.

Abakpa said the ambush occurred within the general area of Bwari, which showed that the terrorists were within the location and possibly preparing to carry out their plans to attack the law school in Bwari.

Following the attack on Kuje Prison by terror group, Boko Haram, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), last week, allayed fears of another impending attack by terrorists in Abuja.

The Brigade of Guards had also set up a board of inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack and the involvement or otherwise of soldiers posted in the Kuje Correctional Center on the day of the attack.

The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had issued a security alert of a planned terror attack on churches, schools and public infrastructure.

Another anonymous alert, patterned after standard security alerts, which had trended on social media also indicated that there were sightings of influx of unknown persons over time, around Karshi Hills and Orozo, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

It said some persons were seen regularly and clandestinely going up the hills around Navy Town Estate, thus raising high suspicion that the invaders were massing up in camps within the hills, which also connect to other adjoining forests within the FCT and Nassarawa State.

The alert said the terrorists planned to attack educational institutions located in the area. But the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Maj Gen Jimmy Akpor, said security agencies were at alert and determined to contain any security threats to the seat of power.

“Security agencies are not sleeping. They are doing what needs to be done to keep the place safe. A lot of things are being done. Measures have been put in place. Of all the security agencies, none is sleeping,” he said.

On the intelligence alert of an impending attack making the rounds, he said expectations were that the citizenry would provide available information to security forces and not circulate such on social media.

PDP: Nigeria Has Failed Irretrievably Under APC

However, the PDP has expressed sadness over the fate of the kidnapped Kaduna train passengers, saying it was alarmed and distressed by the video of terrorists mercilessly flogging, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and threatening to sell them into slavery.

The party further said it was heartbreaking to watch fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, helpless children; compatriots and citizens of Nigeria in captivity and being tortured, brutalised, humiliated and crying in pain, agony and anguish just because Nigerians had the misfortune of being under the APC government that has proven to be derelict, irresponsible, unconcerned and completely numb to the pains and sufferings of our citizens.

Addressing a press conference, National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the emotional toll of the sad incident on the victims, their families and the entire nation could not be quantified, particularly, on the younger generation, who witnessed the humiliation of their parents and breadwinners in such gruesome circumstance.

According to Ologunagba. “This will certainly have a generational consequence on the emotional and psychological makeup of our young persons with the possibility of losing faith in our nation and the capacity for empathy.

“Indeed, as a party, our hearts bleed! The APC government has irretrievably failed our nation. Under the APC, Nigeria is fast sliding into a Hobbesian State where Rule of Law, Order and leadership are absent and where cruel, inhumane and insensitive bunch of human beings in government have abandoned our citizens to killers, terrorists and bandits.

“This disquieting video is a heartrending testament of the reported complicity and failure of the APC government to take decisive actions to rescue the victims since the gruesome train attack in which very promising Nigerians including a 29-year old female medical doctor was brutally killed and others taken captive by terrorists since then.

“It is a painful commentary on the continuing mass killing by terrorists in various parts of our country as well as a confirmation of the agony of hundreds of our citizens including students, who are being tortured and executed in countless terrorists’ dens enabled by the APC government,” he stated.

You’ve Failed, Hire Mercenaries to End Insecurity, NNPP Tells Buhari

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately hire foreign mercenaries for six months in order to tackle the pervading security challenges bedeviling the nation.

The new opposition party also admonished President Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency on security in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States.

The Katsina State Chairman of the NNPP, Hon. Sani Liti, who made the calls at a press conference in Katsina, said the president has failed to secure the lives and property of the citizenry.

He added that the federal government should recruit one million young Nigerians to be trained as special forces to protect and secure the country, when the mercenaries leave in six months.

From 2015 to date, he said, over 50,000 Nigerians had lost their lives to terrorists and properties as well as money worth trillion of naira have been lost to insurgents, who used the funds to purchase sophisticated weapons to kill innocent Nigerians.

He, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the 2023 presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for allegedly buying delegates during their parties national conventions.

“The government of Nigeria shall as a matter of urgency declare a state of emergency on security. In this respect, we are calling for the government to immediately hire mercenaries for six months to fight the rising banditry, insurgency and tribal militia.

“We call on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States. With the state of emergency, it is expected that the governments of these states shall be suspended and their accounts closed so that all monies shall be channelled to secure from banditry and insurgency.

“We call on INEC to disqualify Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the presidential election in 2023 for buying delegates during their parties national conventions.

“The EFCC, Police and DSS should arrest them and all other actors, who participated in the conventions. We believe that, should anyone of these two wins the election next year, the country will slide into deeper corruption,” he said.

He, therefore, warned that if the federal government refused to declare a state of emergency in the affected states, the party would ask all the state assemblies to commence the process of impeachment of the aforementioned governors.

THISDAY

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Five Suspects Face Judgment Today Over Owo Church Massacre

Published

33 minutes ago

June 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Five Suspects Face Judgment Today Over Owo Church Massacre

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, left at least 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured. The assault, one of the deadliest on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history, occurred during Sunday mass when attackers threw explosives at the altar and opened fire on congregants, scattering worshippers and plunging the community into mourning.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the five defendants over their alleged roles in the attack. The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years). They are facing a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, including the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the church. One of the count charges reads: “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons.”

The development comes a week after Justice Emeka Nwite reserved judgment in the case following the adoption of final written addresses by the prosecution and defence. At the last hearing on May 26, 2026, Nwite said a date for judgment would be communicated to the parties, adding that notice could come within 24 hours. The matter has now been scheduled for judgment on Wednesday.

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At the close of the trial, the DSS urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law. Ayodeji Adedipe, counsel to the prosecution and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , argued that the evidence before the court established the defendants’ involvement in the attack and warranted the death penalty. Adedipe told the court that the prosecution had painstakingly established its case against the defendants through compelling evidence and detailed investigations, which reflected the determination of security agencies to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on innocent worshippers in Nigerian history.

However, Abdullahi Mohammad, counsel to the defendants, asked the court to discharge and acquit his clients, contending that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against them.

The trial commenced on August 1, 2025, after the DSS secured an order for an accelerated hearing. During the proceedings, the prosecution called 11 witnesses in a bid to establish the terrorism allegations against the defendants. The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were made voluntarily. The prosecution also tendered a digital forensic examination report alongside a phone alleged to have contained communications exchanged by the defendants before and after the terror attack.

Throughout the trial, survivors of the attack gave harrowing testimony before the court. One survivor, a couple identified in court as “SSE” and “SSD”, testified as prosecution witnesses, with the husband recounting how he had to crawl among dead bodies searching for his missing son while his wife lost both legs and her left eye as a result of injuries sustained during the attack. The wife, a nurse with the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, was wheeled to the centre of the courtroom to show the judge her amputated legs and damaged eye.

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The attack sparked national and international outrage, with world leaders including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the European Union, and the United Kingdom condemning the assault. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari declared that “the country shall never give in to evil and wicked people,” while the late Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu described the attack as a “deliberate, vicious and calculated assault on peace-loving people.” The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, also condemned the attack and demanded justice for the victims.

As the court prepares to deliver its judgment today, security has been tightened around the Federal High Court premises in Abuja, with armed operatives of the DSS and the Nigeria Police deployed to maintain order. The judgment is expected to be delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the trial. The Owo community, still grieving the loss of their loved ones nearly four years after the attack, has been eagerly awaiting the outcome of the trial, hoping for justice for the 41 worshippers who lost their lives and the over 140 others who sustained injuries.

Following the attack, the Ondo State Government, under Akeredolu’s leadership, led state-level emergency responses, including visits to hospitalised victims and coordination of relief efforts for affected families. The attack also prompted the South-West Governors’ Forum to declare a three-day mourning period across all South-West states, with flags flown at half-mast in all public institutions in solidarity with the victims.

Legal analysts note that if convicted, the defendants could face the death penalty, which the prosecution has strongly advocated for. However, should the court discharge and acquit the defendants, it could trigger widespread outrage from victims’ families and civil society groups who have been following the case closely. The delivery of judgment in this case comes nearly four years after the tragic attack, which remains one of the deadliest incidents of violence against worshippers in Nigeria’s recent history. Human rights organizations have called for a fair and transparent judicial process, while families of the victims have expressed hope that justice will be served. The case has also drawn attention to the broader challenge of terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks on soft targets such as places of worship and schools.

As of the time of this report, the court is expected to convene later today for the judgment delivery. The trial, widely seen as a major test of Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism and mass violence, has been closely watched by legal analysts, human rights groups, and families of the victims.

Five Suspects Face Judgment Today Over Owo Church Massacre

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Enugu Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Recover AK-47 Rifle, Beretta Pistol in Separate Raids

Published

53 minutes ago

June 3, 2026

Trends Admin

The weapons recovered from the two operations

Enugu Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Recover AK-47 Rifle, Beretta Pistol in Separate Raids

Police operatives of Enugu Police Command have foiled a kidnapping attempt, killed two suspected kidnappers and recovered weapons in two separate operations in Enugu State. The operatives recovered three firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol, and locally fabricated double-barreled pistols, two magazines loaded with thirty rounds of 7.62mm calibre ammunition, one live cartridge, phones, and other incriminating exhibits during the operations, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesperson for Enugu Police Command, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The command said the operations, carried out on May 30, 2026, were part of its sustained offensive against violent crimes and criminal elements operating within the state. In one of the operations, Ndukwe said police operatives on May 30, 2026, received intelligence that a gang of about five armed men were attempting to kidnap an individual along the Nowas–Abakpa Road axis of Enugu. The first operation occurred at about 8:30 p.m.

He added that police operatives attached to the Command’s Trans-Ekulu Division working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, swiftly responded and encountered the suspects, who opened fire on them. “The operatives responded with precision and fatally immobilised one of the suspects, while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. The suspect was immediately taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead by the attending doctor. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with thirty rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, and two mobile phones were recovered from the neutralised suspect,” he said.

The spokesperson said further intelligence-led operations by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Sub-Unit of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol connected to the criminal gang. Ndukwe added that on the same date at about 9:19 p.m., information was received that a gang of armed robbers had invaded the residence of a man in Owo Community, Nkanu East Local Government Area, and were robbing him of his personal belongings.

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“Police operatives attached to the Amechi-Idodo Division, in conjunction with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, immediately mobilised to the scene and engaged the suspects. Upon sighting the operatives, the criminal suspects opened fire on the team. The operatives responded and neutralised one of the suspects, while others fled with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. One locally made double-barreled pistol loaded with one live cartridge was recovered from the neutralised suspect,” Ndukwe said.

Ndukwe said operational efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover additional exhibits, while investigations into both incidents are ongoing. “The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa has commended the operatives and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group for their bravery, professionalism, and prompt response. He reiterated the Command’s firm resolve to protecting lives and property and urged citizens to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to enhance public safety,” the spokesperson said.

CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa has also emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration among security agencies as a critical requirement for effective security and public safety. While recently receiving the new Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Enugu State Command, the police commissioner stressed that intelligence sharing, operational collaboration, and mutual support among sister security agencies remain paramount to combating crime and sustaining peace and security in Enugu State.

The Commissioner of Police has also called on operatives of the command to “police with human face and respect for human rights” during an interactive town hall meeting with security stakeholders and citizens. He urged his personnel to operate with utmost professionalism and firmness, adding that police operatives on stop-and-search duties are not permitted to intimidate, harass or search the phones of citizens without investigative justification.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media platforms alleging that innocent citizens were attacked in Awgu, Awgu Council Area of the state. The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Malachy Agbo, disclosed in a statement on Monday that no such incident occurred anywhere in Awgu or any other part of the state, describing the report as a fabrication deliberately concocted by individuals seeking to misinform the public and create unnecessary panic. Agbo urged members of the public to disregard the misinformation and refrain from spreading unverified claims capable of causing fear and confusion among citizens. He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, emphasising that the safety and well-being of Enugu people remained central to Gov. Peter Mbah’s transformational development agenda.

The successful operations have been widely praised by residents and security analysts, who note that the combination of intelligence-led policing, collaboration with local Neighbourhood Watch Groups, and sustained pressure on criminal networks is yielding positive results in the fight against kidnapping and armed robbery in Enugu State. The police command has urged citizens to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to enhance public safety across the state.

Enugu Police Kill Two Kidnappers, Recover AK-47 Rifle, Beretta Pistol in Separate Raids

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He Has Lost His Mind — Oyo Govt Slams Fayose Over School Kidnapping Claims

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2026

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Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde

“He Has Lost His Mind” — Oyo Govt Slams Fayose Over School Kidnapping Claims

The Oyo State Government has responded strongly to allegations made by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, describing his comments as reckless, harmful, and capable of endangering lives.

Governor Seyi Makinde, through the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said Fayose’s remarks were unfortunate at a time when security agencies were working tirelessly to secure the release of those still in captivity. According to Oyelade, the former governor’s comments have shocked many Nigerians and amounted to an attempt to politicise a deeply sensitive security issue.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oyelade accused Fayose of displaying a troubling level of bitterness and hostility, adding that his remarks could undermine ongoing efforts by security operatives handling the kidnapping case. The statement read in part: “Nigerians are shocked by Fayose’s comment. He needs prayers. For a former governor to be so consumed by the politics of vindictiveness, vileness, deceit and hate, that he would further endanger the lives of those in captivity and distract security agents from handling this delicate job, smacks of one who has lost his mind.”

“Governor Makinde is too preoccupied with finding a solution to the challenges posed by the kidnappers of children and teachers in the state to engage someone whose lifestyle and comportment have been suspect over a long time,” the commissioner added. The Oyo State Government maintained that its attention remains focused on addressing the security situation and ensuring the safe return of all victims. It urged residents to remain calm and continue supporting the efforts of security agencies. Oyelade also recalled previous comments allegedly made by Fayose against the Oyo governor, suggesting that the former Ekiti governor had repeatedly sought to drag Governor Makinde into political controversies.

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The latest exchange follows comments made by Fayose during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday. During the interview, the former governor criticised Governor Makinde’s handling of the kidnapping incident and suggested that the abduction may have been politically motivated. Fayose further alleged, without presenting evidence, that the incident could have been orchestrated to embarrass President Bola Tinubu, a claim that has since generated reactions from political observers and government officials. “I sometimes believe that the abduction at Oyo School was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu,” Fayose was quoted as saying. He also accused Governor Makinde of failing to respond promptly to the incident, claiming that the governor prioritised political activities over the crisis. “The governor of Oyo State had his nomination and that of his candidates in the face of this abduction. He did not take any action, no steps were taken. It was after those nominations that he went to the families to visit them,” Fayose said.

The abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area has sparked concern across Oyo State, with many residents calling for stronger security measures to tackle the growing threat of kidnappings. The attack, which occurred on May 15, 2026, saw armed men raid Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in a coordinated operation that sent shockwaves across the state. Approximately 46 pupils and teachers were abducted, including a two-year-old pupil and a school principal. Tragically, there have been reports that one of the abducted teachers was killed in captivity.

In response to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government and deployed a specialised rescue team to the affected communities. The President also dispatched a high-powered delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, which included the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa. Addressing residents of the affected Esiele and Yawota communities, Gbajabiamila assured them that the President was “deeply troubled” by the incident and that the rescue operation would be “intelligence-led,” deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims. The delegation also promised to forward a request for a military base in the area to the President for consideration.

Governor Makinde has also appealed to Nigerians to stop apportioning blame over the abduction, urging instead that citizens support government efforts to ensure the safe and speedy release of the victims. Addressing protesters comprising members of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) , the National Union of Teachers (NUT) , and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ibadan, the governor disclosed that federal security operatives had been in the state for the past two weeks and that he meets with them at least three times daily to review rescue efforts. “This is not the time to trade blames,” Makinde said. “It is time to unite, to confront the challenges that we have and to bring back those children and their teachers.” The abduction has now entered its third week, with the whereabouts of the victims still unknown, leaving families trapped between hope and uncertainty as security agencies race to secure their freedom.

The exchange between Makinde and Fayose has generated heated debates on social media, with Nigerians divided over the former governor’s allegations. Some have questioned the timing of the abduction, which coincided with heightened political activity in the state, while others have dismissed Fayose’s claims as politically motivated and lacking evidence. Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government insists that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the victims and restore confidence in the state’s security architecture.