The Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State Governor, Abayomi Fagbenro, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that teachers and students abducted during last Friday’s attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area had regained freedom.
The attack, which occurred in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota area of Ogbomoso, led to the death of at least two persons, while about 30 pupils, students and teachers were kidnapped by gunmen.
Conflicting reports had flooded social media since Wednesday night, with some posts claiming the victims had been released, while others described the reports as false.
Reacting to the development on Thursday, Fagbenro said there was no truth in the reports, stressing that the abducted victims were still in captivity as of Thursday morning.
“As of 10:35 a.m., it’s not true,” he said while responding to an inquiry.
Also speaking on the matter, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he was unaware of any release of the abducted victims.
Ayanlade, however, assured that security agencies were intensifying efforts to rescue the students and teachers held hostage.
Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, ordered the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to support ongoing rescue operations by the joint security team.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday called for a “careful, clinical and timely” rescue mission to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier disclosed that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working towards rescuing the kidnapped students and teachers.
Governor Seyi Makinde also assured residents that efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe return of those abducted.
The gunmen had invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and LEA Primary School, Esiele, abducting several pupils, students and teachers during the attack.
Makinde revealed that seven students were kidnapped from Community Grammar School, while 18 children and seven teachers were abducted from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School. He added that one person was killed during the incident.