Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed the killing of one of the teachers abducted alongside other victims in Ahoro Dada Community, Oriire Local Government Area of the state, while pledging continued efforts to rescue the remaining abductees.
Makinde disclosed this on Sunday after a security review meeting with his security advisers and service commanders over the abduction of seven teachers and an unconfirmed number of pupils.
Confirming the development, the governor said one of the abducted teachers, a Mathematics teacher, was killed by the attackers.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers were abducted. Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, understood to be the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists. Our prayers are with the family,” Makinde said.
The governor expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and sympathised with members of the rescue teams, including soldiers, Amotekun operatives and local vigilantes, who reportedly encountered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors during operations.
He said injured operatives were responding positively to treatment and assured that the government would cover their medical expenses.
Makinde stated that both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies were being deployed to secure the release of the remaining victims.
“We are doing everything within our power to ensure that we bring our children back safely,” he said.
The governor also revealed that tactical teams comprising security agencies and local operatives had been deployed to track the abductors, adding that some suspects had already been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to him, about six individuals were picked up within the locality for alleged involvement as informants and logistics support for the attackers.
He further warned that increasing terrorist activity in parts of the South-West may be linked to pressure being mounted on criminal groups in other regions of the country.
