Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed that seven teachers were abducted during an attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Makinde disclosed this on Sunday while briefing journalists after a meeting with service commanders and heads of security agencies in the state.
He also confirmed that an Islamic Studies teacher was killed during the attack.
According to the governor, six suspects have been arrested within the affected community, while three other persons of interest are also in custody.
“The information available is that about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them we believe are informants. Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested,” he said.
Makinde said preliminary intelligence suggested that the attackers may be armed groups fleeing military operations in the North-West.
“With the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West, they will keep moving southward,” he said.
“But the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure points.”
The governor added that the state government would not rely only on military operations to address the situation.
He said the government had begun consultations with community leaders, elders and religious leaders, including officials of the Baptist Convention, since one of the affected schools belongs to the church.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just a kinetic approach. We are engaging leaders, elders and religious leaders, especially at the Baptist Convention,” he said.
Makinde said the exact number of missing pupils was still being verified.
He assured families of the abducted teachers and pupils that the government and security agencies were working to secure their release.
“We are not taking this lightly. We will do everything within our means to resolve this quickly and bring our children back safely,” he added.
