Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in parts of Oyo State may have been orchestrated by the state government as part of a scheme to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fayose made the claim during a televised interview while reacting to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers by gunmen in some local government areas of Oyo State. The incident, which sparked widespread concern across the country, prompted President Tinubu to dispatch a high-level delegation to the affected communities and assure residents of ongoing efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Questioning the handling of the situation by the Oyo State Government, Fayose argued that state authorities have a primary responsibility to respond to local security challenges before shifting attention to the Federal Government.
According to him, Governor Seyi Makinde failed to act swiftly after the abductions, alleging that the governor was more focused on political activities at the time of the incident.
The former governor suggested that the timing and response to the kidnappings raised suspicions about possible political motives, claiming that the episode may have been intended to cast the Federal Government in a negative light.
Fayose further maintained that he believed the abductions could have been used as a tool to discredit President Tinubu, though he acknowledged that his position remained a personal belief.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Makinde nor the Oyo State Government had issued a response to the allegations.
The abductions have continued to attract reactions from political stakeholders and security experts, with renewed calls for stronger measures to safeguard schools and tackle insecurity across the country.