Families of pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State have rejected rice and cash offered by government officials, saying their only priority is the safe return of their loved ones, a community leader has said.
Baale of Yawota, Emmanuel Alade, told News Central on Monday that parents turned down relief materials brought by a delegation from Governor Seyi Makinde’s team.
"When the government officials came, they came with rice and money, but the parents rejected it.
"The women who are government officials on Governor Seyi Makinde’s team came to console us. They brought rice and money, but the parents said they did not want it. They said what they wanted was for their children to be released," he said.
The abduction occurred more than two weeks ago in the Oriire Local Government Area (LGA), when gunmen attacked three schools and took 39 students and seven teachers.
One teacher, Michael Oyedokun of Community Grammar School, was killed.
Alade described how the attack unfolded. "On the day the incident happened, I was sitting here when I saw them pass by, but I did not know them.
READ ALSO: Oyo Students: Makinde Says Governors are 'Powerless' over Security
"Not long after, we started hearing gunshots. People said bandits had entered the community and everyone ran away.
"The person who went to meet them was killed, and that was how the students were taken away. Little children were abducted while the gunmen kept shooting," he said.
He disclosed residents later reported the incident to police, who visited the area.
The rejection of aid comes as state and federal officials intensify visits to affected communities.
Governor Makinde met families at Ahoro-Esiele on Saturday and assured them security agencies were working to rescue the victims.
Also, a federal delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila visited Esiele and Yawota on Sunday on President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
The team included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa.
During the visit, they pledged that every available resource was being deployed to secure the release of the abductees.
0 Comments