A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Ololade Usman Bakare, has strongly condemned the abduction of students and teachers in Ahoro-Esinele community in Orire Local Government Area of the state.
Bakare described the attack on the school as “barbaric, unacceptable and intolerable,” urged security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the victims from captivity.
In a statement issued on Monday, the APC chieftain expressed sympathy with the affected families and the host community, calling for calm amid the growing tension surrounding the incident.
He said the targeting of schools and innocent citizens represented a dangerous trend that must not be allowed to continue in Oyo State.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous and cowardly attack that led to the abduction of innocent students and teachers in Oyo State,” Bakare stated.
He added that the incident reflected the worsening insecurity in the state and called for urgent and decisive action from relevant authorities.
According to him, Oyo State, known historically as a centre of learning and civilisation, should not become a place where students and educators live in fear.
Bakare further described the incident as “a failure of leadership and a failure of will,” insisting that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government.
The governorship hopeful vowed that, if elected, his administration would confront insecurity with “decisive, bold and uncompromising action.”
He also warned perpetrators of the attack that there would be “no hiding place” for criminals, stressing that justice must be pursued relentlessly to end impunity.
Bakare appealed to all security agencies to act swiftly in securing the release of the abducted students and teachers, noting that every moment matters in rescue operations.
He urged residents of the state to reject fear and continue demanding improved security and protection of lives across Oyo communities.
