OYO ABDUCTION SAGA: Terrorists Give Condition, Demand Direct Negotiation With Gov Makinde

…As fear grips Ogbomoso, schools abandoned over toddlers, teachers in captivity …Slain teacher buried, family of beheaded victim cries out

Suspected terrorists who abducted schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have finally opened communication channels, issuing a stringent ultimatum to negotiate strictly with Governor Seyi Makinde. The victims, violently whisked away eight days ago from Esinele, Yamota, and Alawusa towns, notably include toddlers as young as two years old, a development that has sparked widespread outrage and agonizing panic across the state.

Highly credible security sources confirmed that the kidnappers outrightly refused to engage with the agonizing families of the victims. The armed hoodlums insisted on speaking exclusively with the state governor, keeping their specific demands entirely discreet to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing situation. While the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Abayomi Fagbenro, declined to comment on the delicate development, top security insiders expressed cautious relief that communication channels had finally been established, noting that the victims are reportedly being moved across thick forests to evade security pressures.

The protracted captivity and the harsh realities of the incoming rainy season have plunged families and community leaders into deep distress over the survival of the toddlers in such unforgiving terrain. Consequently, the educational sector in the region has collapsed entirely. Academic activities have been grounded in Ogbomoso and neighboring communities, including Ikose, Ikoyi, Tewure, and Dananu. Frightened parents have hastily withdrawn their wards from both public and private institutions, while traumatized teachers have abandoned classrooms out of profound fear for their lives.

This mass withdrawal from schools was heavily fueled by the brutal murders of two educators connected to the crisis. Joel Adesiyan, a 49-year-old former Assistant Headmaster killed during the initial Friday attack, was laid to rest amid a tearful gathering in Ogbomoso. State government representatives and union leaders at the funeral demanded swift justice and the immediate rescue of the remaining captives.

In an even more gruesome development, a second teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded while in captivity. His family has since passionately appealed to the Nigerian public to immediately halt the online circulation of the disturbing video showing his murder, describing the continuous sharing of the footage as deeply traumatizing. Family spokespersons lamented the irreplaceable loss, highlighting the profound tragedy that the dedicated teacher, who served the state for over two decades, died without an heir despite being married for over ten years.

Reacting to the escalating regional panic, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, acknowledged the tragic incident but strongly attributed the heightened public hysteria to misinformation and fake news peddled by bloggers. The commissioner cautioned residents against consuming unverified social media videos deliberately designed to cause panic, reassuring the public that the state government is fully aware of the crisis and is heavily invested in ongoing security operations to ensure the safe, unhurt return of all captives.