Families of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oyo State have rejected cash and relief materials offered by government officials, insisting that their primary concern is the safe return of their loved ones.
The Baale of Yawota community in Orire Local Government Area, Emmanuel Alade, disclosed this during an interview with News Central on Monday while recounting events surrounding the abduction.
According to Alade, government representatives who visited the affected communities to sympathise with residents were turned away after presenting rice and money to the victims’ families.
“When the government officials came, they came with rice and money, but the parents rejected it,” he said.
“The women who are government officials on Governor Seyi Makinde’s team came to console us. They brought rice and money, but the parents said they did not want it. They said what they wanted was for their children to be released.”
Alade also narrated how the attack occurred, saying he noticed unfamiliar individuals moving through the community shortly before gunshots were heard.
“On the day the incident happened, I was sitting here when I saw them pass by, but I did not know them. Not long after, we started hearing gunshots. People said bandits had entered the community and everyone ran away,” he said.
“The person who went to meet them was killed, and that was how the students were taken away. Little children were abducted while the gunmen kept shooting.”
He added that residents subsequently reported the incident to the police, who later visited the community.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts by both state and federal authorities to secure the release of the abductees.
Kano Times recalls that Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday visited families of the kidnapped pupils and staff members at Ahoro-Esiele community, assuring them that security agencies were working tirelessly to rescue the victims.
The governor said his administration had intensified security operations and strategic meetings following the incident, expressing confidence that all abductees would be rescued safely.
A day later, a federal government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, visited Esiele and Yawota communities on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
The delegation, which included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured residents that all available resources were being deployed to secure the release of the victims.
The mass abduction, which occurred more than two weeks ago, has continued to raise concerns over security in communities located along Oyo State’s border areas.
