OYO DENIES REPORTS OF ABDUCTED TEACHERS, STUDENTS’ RELEASE

The Oyo State Government has dismissed viral social media reports claiming that teachers and students abducted during last Friday’s attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area have been released.

The attack, which occurred in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso, resulted in the killing of at least two persons and the abduction of about 30 teachers and students.

Since Wednesday night, social media platforms have been flooded with conflicting reports suggesting that the victims had regained their freedom. While some posts claimed the abductees had been released, others described the reports as false and unverified.

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde, Abayomi Fagbenro, stated that the reports were untrue.

“As of 10:35 am, it’s not true,” Fagbenro said on Thursday while responding to inquiries regarding the viral claims.

Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he was unaware of any release of the abducted victims as of Wednesday night.

He, however, assured that security agencies were intensifying efforts to secure the safe release of those still in captivity.

Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, announced the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to work with the joint security team handling the rescue operation.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also called for a “careful, clinical and timely” operation to rescue the abducted students and teachers.

The Defence Headquarters had earlier disclosed that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working towards securing the victims’ release.