The senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari, has revealed that the kidnappers who abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State tied as many as eight children together on a motorcycle while conveying them into the forest.
Mr Buhari, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the abductors, armed with machine guns, escorted the children and teachers deep into the forest while recording videos of the operation.
The senator disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly on Wednesday, recounting details of the abduction.
“When they were taking the children away, six, seven or eight children, they would tie them back to each other. One person would be in front of the Okada, another one would be at the back of the Okada with a machine gun. You can see that terrifying situation. And they were videoing themselves and releasing it,” he said.
Forty-nine people, comprising school children, teachers and a toddler, were abducted from their school, the Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, the Community Grammar School, and the L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele. The two communities are in the Oyo North Senatorial District.
Armed men abducted the victims on 15 May and have remained in captivity since then.
One of the victims, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, was beheaded by the kidnappers, while the children and other hostages are said to be facing harsh conditions in captivity.
The incident has generated nationwide concern, prompting the NUT to commence an indefinite strike on 1 June to press for the immediate rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers.
In response, President Bola Tinubu approved the deployment of 1,000 forest guards to support ongoing security operations aimed at securing the release of the victims and strengthening surveillance across vulnerable forest corridors.
Mr Buhari said security agencies have identified the general area where the kidnappers are hiding, with police and military helicopters conducting surveillance operations over the forest.
More details here…
