Governor Seyi Makinde has drawn attention to the timing of a school abduction in Oyo State. He said the incident happened hours after he declared his intention to contest the presidency.
IBADAN, OYO STATE — Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, said the state recorded a school abduction shortly after he announced his intention to contest Nigeria’s presidency. Speaking during a public engagement, the governor said Oyo State had not experienced any school abduction throughout his first seven years in office until the incident occurred. He made the remarks while reflecting on recent security developments.
According to Makinde, the kidnapping happened by the morning after his presidential declaration. He said the timing stood out because the state had maintained a record without a school abduction before then. However, the governor did not present evidence linking the incident to his decision to seek the presidency.
The governor maintained that his administration has continued to prioritise security through collaboration with security agencies and investments in intelligence gathering. He did not identify any individuals or groups responsible for the abduction during his remarks.
Oyo State has implemented several security measures under the Makinde administration, including support for security agencies and the establishment of local security initiatives aimed at improving public safety. Despite these efforts, insecurity remains a national concern, with several states recording cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in recent years, according to security reports.
The development means the governor’s comments are likely to generate political and public interest as discussions around the 2027 general election continue. While Makinde highlighted the sequence of events surrounding his presidential declaration and the school abduction, no official evidence has been presented to establish a connection between the two. Security agencies have also not publicly linked the incident to the governor’s political ambition.
