By, Omowumi Hannah

The All Progressives Congress APC has described the combined efforts of the federal government and security agencies which yielded the freedom of school children and their teachers from the custody of bandits as the best news of the year saying that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has again shown commitment to fighting crimes to a standstill in the country.

The freed captives were abducted by a team of bandits which invaded the two communities of Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire local government area of Oyo state on May 15, 2026 even as they killed two persons during the attack and later one of the teachers who was teaching mathematics in a secondary school in one of the affected schools.

In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary Olawale Sadare Oyo APC charged the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to take some proactive measures in guiding a repeat of the ugly experience in any part of the state by making sure that his administration forms a synergy with the federal government and security agencies particularly in the area of security.

“We are happy for the lucky abductees, their family members and every concerned persons who have had to contend will indescribable agony and apprehension in the last 56 days while we also sympathise with the families of the three individuals who lost their lives to the unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, it is important for all stakeholders to work together and kick out bandits, abductors and other criminal elements from the Nigerian society because insecurity is antithetical to progress and development.

“As things stand now, state governors have to be more alive to their responsibilities especially as it concerns security of lives and properties. The situation in Oyo state since 2019 has been worrisome because we have a governor who always works at cross purpose with the government at the centre on account of dirty politicking.

“As we await details of successful operations which yielded the freedom of the victims, it is imperative for the Makinde administration to avoid spreading false narratives and half truths capable of misleading the public and downplaying the roles played by the federal government all in the name of the governor’s laughable presidential ambition.

“As a matter of fact, we would like to charge President Tinubu to entrust the rehabilitation and welfare of the freed captives in the hands of a federal agency or an ad hoc committee rather than Gov. Makinde because we do not want the Bodija Explosion saga to repeat itself again. Also, corporate organizations and individual philanthropists should channel their intervention through the federal government and the governor’s wife whose voice was not heard on the Oriire abduction since the day it happened.” APC added.