Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has assured residents that every effort is being made to secure the release of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, urging Nigerians to remain united and avoid actions that could undermine ongoing rescue operations.

Makinde gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing protesters at the Government House in Ibadan. The demonstrators, drawn from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and other stakeholders, had organised a solidarity rally to demand the immediate rescue of the victims.

The protests followed a nationwide outcry over the continued captivity of the abducted pupils and teachers, as well as an ongoing strike by teachers in Oyo State initiated by the NUT national leadership in response to the incident.

Addressing the crowd, the governor stressed that the rescue mission should not be politicised or turned into a blame game among different levels of government. According to him, the focus should remain on working together to ensure the safe return of the victims.

“This is not the time to apportion blame or argue over whether the responsibility lies with the president, the governor, or the local government. This is a time for all of us to come together as one,” Makinde said.

The governor described the kidnappers as dangerous criminals whose actions defy normal human behaviour, noting that security agencies were dealing with individuals capable of extreme violence.

“We are not dealing with normal human beings. Anyone who can abduct fellow human beings and kill them without remorse cannot be considered normal,” he said.

Makinde appealed to students, teachers, workers, and residents to maintain confidence in government efforts, revealing that security personnel deployed by the federal government had remained actively engaged in the state for more than two weeks.

He disclosed that he had been holding regular meetings with security operatives, sometimes several times a day, to review developments and coordinate rescue efforts.

“I can only appeal to the students, teachers, workers, and all residents to trust the government. We are doing everything possible. Federal security operatives have been on ground for the past two weeks, and I have been meeting with them morning, afternoon, and night to ensure that progress is being made,” he said.

The governor further warned against actions that could create division or provide encouragement to those behind the attacks, insisting that unity was critical at a time of national concern.

“We should not give oxygen to those who want to see us divided. The best response at this moment is for everyone to stand together and allow the government and security agencies to complete their work,” he added.

Makinde also expressed confidence that the victims would eventually regain their freedom.

“I can assure you that our children and their teachers will be rescued,” the governor stated.

The abduction occurred on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping about 39 pupils and seven teachers. During the attack, an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were reportedly killed.

Public anger intensified days later after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers.

The situation has continued to generate widespread concern across the country, with families of the victims, labour unions, student groups, and civil society organisations calling for urgent action.

In separate videos circulated on social media, one of the abducted victims, Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, appealed for government intervention, alleging that the kidnappers had threatened to kill another captive if negotiations were not pursued.

As pressure mounts, both state and federal authorities have stepped up engagement with affected families and local communities. Governor Makinde visited relatives of the victims on Saturday, while a federal delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, visited Ogbomoso on Sunday to assess the situation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit equipped with advanced rescue capabilities to support efforts aimed at securing the safe release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

The incident remains one of the most disturbing school-related kidnappings in recent times and has renewed concerns over security in educational institutions across Nigeria.