Oyo Kidnapping: A Mix of Tragedy and Politics

The rescue of 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State has brought some relief to their families. But the event has raised many political questions ahead of the 2027 elections. ISMAEEL UTHMAN reports.

The rescue of the 44 students and teachers taken from schools in Oriire Local Government Area created joy for their families. But it did not put an end to the political debates that followed their 56-day ordeal.

With claims of sabotage and political planning, the kidnapping became more than just a security issue. It turned into a significant topic as the political race heats up for the 2027 elections.

On May 15, terrorists, thought to be part of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, known as Ansaru, attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The attackers shot and killed the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan. They also killed an unnamed commercial motorcyclist caught in the attack. Initially, reports said 39 pupils and seven teachers were taken, but the Nigerian Army later confirmed that 44 were abducted, including Community Grammar School Principal, Rachael Alamu.

One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed the next day by the terrorists to discourage any rescue attempts. The kidnappers demanded the release of two Boko Haram commanders, Mahmud Usman, known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, in exchange for the hostages. The Federal and Oyo State Governments insisted they would not negotiate with the terrorists, stating they would rescue the victims through security operations.

The victims were freed on Friday, as announced by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on his verified X account. Governor Seyi Makinde called the rescue a big relief and celebrated not just with the families but with the entire nation.

But joy quickly turned into political debate. Earlier that day, Makinde, seemingly unaware of the rescue, was in Bauchi where he said the attack happened shortly after he declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2027. “For seven years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State. I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at four o’clock, and by 9 a.m. the following day, the children were abducted,” he told his host, Governor Bala Mohammed.

The timing of Makinde's comments matched the announcement of the victims' release, stirring political discussions on whether the kidnapping was a coincidence or part of a larger political scheme.

Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, revealed that Makinde told him President Tinubu had not contacted him during the 56 days of captivity. “But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu,” Obi posted on his verified X account after visiting Makinde in Ibadan on July 5.

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose also accused Makinde of using the incident to embarrass the President. “I sometimes believe that this was orchestrated in a way, not saying totally, by the government of Oyo State to blackmail President Tinubu,” Fayose said in an interview on Channels Television on June 1.

Two days later, Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, claimed that politicians were behind the kidnappers. “I know the politicians behind them… They are the ones giving them ammunition and money,” he said in a viral video but did not provide names or proof.

After the victims were freed, another issue came up regarding the rescue operation. A security source told Sunday PUNCH that an intelligence agency, referred to as “the Service,” coordinated the final phase of the rescue with President Tinubu’s approval. The source claimed Makinde was not informed before the victims were rescued from the forest.

“The President was briefed on the operations and the next line of action on Thursday night. Thereafter, the victims were rescued and taken to Ibadan. The governor was not aware of the operation and must have seen the victims on social media,” the source stated. While Sunday PUNCH could not verify this claim, earlier reports indicated communication gaps between the military and the Oyo State Government.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, dismissed reports of troop withdrawal from the Old Oyo National Park forest. He told residents to direct their concerns through community leaders to the state government, stating that the state was monitoring military activities.

“The state government has no idea about it and we don’t have any comment on it,” said Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information, responding to the differing accounts.

The All Progressives Congress officials dismissed the idea that the attack had political motives. A national official of the party, speaking anonymously, argued that the complexity of the operation indicated it was planned for months.

“We shouldn’t be playing politics with security. Let’s be logical. Is Makinde saying that the abduction was organised in less than 24 hours after he declared his presidential ambition?” the official said. “If the abduction was political, why would the terrorists be killing people? Those who carried out the abduction must have spent months planning.”

Seye Oladejo, a former Lagos State APC spokesman, also criticized Makinde for focusing on whether Tinubu called him instead of recognizing the roles of the Federal Government and security agencies. “Beyond the celebration lies a political question Makinde owes Nigerians an answer. Is he still waiting for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s phone call?” Oladejo asked.

The PDP in Oyo State, however, insisted that the events surrounding the abduction indicated more than just a normal security issue. Michael Ogunsina, the party's Publicity Secretary, mentioned that Oyo had not seen such a significant kidnapping since Makinde took office. “In the last seven and a half years, we have never had any occurrence of such a troubling incident. There must be some level of backing,” he said.

Ogunsina also noted that comments from Fayose and Nyesom Wike pointed to political motives behind the tragedy. “These are people working for the President. It looks like some individuals are trying to spoil Makinde’s name,” he stated.

However, not everyone agreed with the political interpretations of the kidnapping. Seye Oyeleye, a spokesman for the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, praised the cooperation between the two levels of government during the rescue. “We congratulate the victims and our security operatives for their painstaking efforts. We commend the leadership shown by President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde,” he said.

He added that the incident should encourage regional unity against terrorism. “We must also commend South-West communities for saying no to terrorism and banditry. The creation of state police is one of many steps.”

While the rescue of the pupils and teachers ended a traumatic chapter for Oyo State, it did not settle the political debates that followed. Makinde’s comments connecting the attack to his presidential ambitions, Obi’s revelation about Tinubu’s silence, and Fayose’s claims have kept the event alive in the political discussions leading to the 2027 elections. This situation reflects how major security issues often become political battlegrounds, with different narratives emerging alongside the efforts to solve the underlying security problems.