The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has condemned the Friday attack by suspected bandits on communities in Oriire Local Government Area, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of failing to address rising insecurity in the state.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC expressed sympathy to the families of the victims killed during the attack and called for the immediate rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and headteacher, Mrs Folawe Alamu.

Gunmen riding motorcycles had reportedly invaded Yawota and Ahoro Esinele communities on Friday morning, killing two residents and abducting several pupils alongside the school headteacher.

The opposition party described the incident as evidence of what it termed the “ineptitude” of the state government in handling security challenges.

“For quite some time, some local government areas in the state have witnessed violent attacks in the hands of gunmen and bandits who always kill, maim, and abduct hapless citizens,” Sadare stated.

He listed Oriire, Ibarapa North, Oluyole, Itesiwaju and Ido as some of the councils frequently affected by attacks.

The APC spokesperson also criticised Makinde’s activities during the period of the attack, alleging that the governor was engaged in political activities in Ibadan while insecurity persisted in other parts of the state.

“The saddening part of the whole thing is that Governor Makinde, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state, was busy gallivanting on the streets of Ibadan at the time of the Friday attacks,” he said.

Sadare questioned the deployment of security personnel attached to the governor and demanded explanations on the use of state security resources, including surveillance aircraft reportedly acquired by the government.

“At this juncture, the good people of the state must rise to ask questions; where are the security surveillance aircraft for which the governor removed billions of naira from the state treasury to purchase last year?” he asked.

The APC urged the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted victims and improve security across vulnerable communities in Oyo State.