I am equally ready to risk my life for rescue of Oriire abductees — Gov Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated he is willing to make significant sacrifices, even risking his own life, to ensure the safe return of pupils and teachers taken hostage in Oriire Local Government Area of Ogbomoso.

This declaration came on Tuesday during a meeting with a group of peaceful protesters led by activist Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his home in Ikolaba, Ibadan.

In response to the protesters’ appeal for his involvement in the rescue efforts, Makinde expressed his confidence in the current security measures in place, asserting that they are effective enough to secure the victims’ safe return with minimal losses.

He revealed that, according to intelligence reports, no further harm has come to the abductees since the incident, which involved the tragic death of a Mathematics teacher.

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Despite this, Makinde affirmed that he would personally join the rescue operation if the situation continued to deteriorate, emphasizing that negotiating with the kidnappers is not a suitable approach for the government.

He praised the protesters for their peaceful demonstration, highlighting that public pressure and civic involvement can motivate leaders and security forces to act promptly and positively.

Earlier, Otse explained that the solidarity march was held to bolster the government’s efforts in rescuing the abducted individuals and reuniting them with their families as soon as possible.

He also offered to volunteer, along with other youths, to contribute to the rescue missions in Oriire, as part of a broader initiative to combat the increasing issue of kidnappings and banditry across the nation.