Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, May 27, assured families of abducted teachers and students that his administration was working tirelessly to secure their release.
Makinde gave the assurance while hosting his Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, and other Muslim faithful at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan, during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
He acknowledged the emotional distress caused by the abductions and pledged continued efforts to reunite the victims with their families.
“The challenges that we have, especially in Oyo with our school children being kidnapped, we are working round the clock to ensure that the children are reunited with their families.
“So, I also use this opportunity to say to those that are in despair right now, that God Almighty will meet them at their point of need,” Makinde said.
The governor expressed sympathy with affected families and prayed for strength and divine comfort for those impacted.
The incident followed coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area, where scores of pupils and teachers were abducted.
Makinde also used the occasion to call for unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, urging residents not to allow political differences to divide them ahead of the next election cycle.
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He said Oyo State remained open and tolerant, where religion and ethnicity could not be easily used to create division.
“Well, let me use this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters, and indeed everyone in Oyo and Nigeria, happy Eid celebration and I wish all of us many, many more of it in the land of the living.
“This is because we are moving towards a political season and for us in Oyo we are very liberal and tolerant people. So, it’s difficult to use ethnicity or religion to divide us,” he said.
He further stressed that political offices are temporary, urging leaders and citizens to prioritise the long-term interest of the state and nation.
“Even as we move towards this political season, government will come and go but our state and our country remain. Even when we disagree with ourselves, it’s a temporary thing.
“In another seven or eight months, president-elect would have emerged, governors-elect would have emerged.
“And whoever emerges, we will have to work together in the interest of our state and our country with such individuals and set of people,” Makinde added.
Meanwhile, worshippers gathered at the Agodi Eid praying ground for Eid-el-Kabir prayers, also prayed for the safe return of those abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, urging security agencies to intensify rescue operations and restore calm to affected communities.