President Bola Tinubu has condemned the reported “barbaric” killing of one of the abducted teachers from the Esiele community in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the teacher was killed when “rescue operation is underway.”
Gunmen had attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA, Oyo state, on Friday.
The Oyo police command said two people were killed during the attack on the schools. At least 45 schoolchildren, a principal and teachers were reportedly kidnapped during the incident.
On Sunday, videos showing the abducted principal and a teacher surfaced on social media, with the victims pleading with the federal and state government to ensure their release.
While conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy to Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and the state government and people of the state over the incident, Onanuga assured that security operatives are “working around the clock” to rescue the victims and arrest the bandits as well as their collaborators within the community.
He further assured that the federal government would collaborate with the state government to rescue the victims.
“I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community. I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims,” the statement reads.
“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims.
“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
“Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police.”
