Abduction: Reps Minority Leader faults Tinubu’s failure to visit Oyo, calls for his resignation

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Frederick Agbedi, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s failure to visit Oyo State in the wake of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state.

Agbedi spoke when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, asking Tinubu to resign if he is unable to secure the country.

“Yes, since he’s unable, he should quit,” the Bayelsa lawmaker said on Wednesday’s edition of the show when he was asked if the president should resign due to the rising rate of insecurity in Nigeria.

“Take, for example, Mr. President went to Jos. He went to Jos to sympathise with the people of Plateau State who suffered an insecurity attack. What did the president say? He said the Jos airport had no lights, so in the next 10 minutes, he was going to leave. He didn’t even go to see the people; he met the people at the Jos airport.

“Let me ask you, you said there was no light on the tarmac. Beautiful. Are you ready to lead your people? Let me tell you how many children are in captivity in Oyo State. The president was in Lagos. So, the president was in Lagos—did he go to Ibadan? He sent his NSA,” he said on the current affairs show.

Over 40 students and teachers were abducted in the state last month, sparking national outrage and protests.

Following the development, President Tinubu sent a high-powered delegation, including his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu; and others to the South-West state.

The president promised to ensure the release of the abductees, vowing that terrorism has no room in Nigeria.

More than one month after they were taken away, the abductees are still in captivity.

Several interest groups like the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), civil society organisations, and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VDM, took to the streets in protest against the abduction. They asked the authorities to rescue the students and teachers.

Reacting to the abduction, the minority caucus of the lower chamber gave Tinubu six months to fix insecurity in Nigeria or quit. 

Oyo Assembly seeks establishment of joint security taskforce to tackle insecurity

To ensure implementation of its resolutions, the House directed its Committee on Security and Strategy to undertake an oversight visit to the affected roads and other security flashpoints in Oke-Ogun and Oriire Local Government Area.

The committee was also mandated to work with the Committees on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours, as well as Environment, Water Resources and Ecology, to engage relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun Corps and the affected local government councils.

Speaking during deliberations, the Chairman of the House Committee on Security and Strategy, Hon. Rahman Olorunpoto, advocated the creation of a Special Joint Security Taskforce dedicated to securing the Old Oyo National Park and adjoining communities.

According to him, the proposed task force should comprise personnel drawn from the Forest Agro Rangers, Amotekun Corps, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Police, noting that the national park falls under the control of the Federal Government and requires a coordinated security response.

Also contributing, Hon. Babalola Abiodun, representing Ibadan North-East I State Constituency, stressed the need for additional measures to strengthen the state’s security architecture.

He commended Governor Makinde for his relentless efforts towards securing the release of teachers and pupils recently abducted in Oriire Local Government Area and urged the House Committee on Security and Strategy to explore practical frameworks for the proposed taskforce, including operational guidelines, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives.

Abiodun further urged the committee to engage relevant authorities and stakeholders to assess ongoing rescue efforts and determine areas where the proposed intervention could effectively complement existing security arrangements.

Oyo 2027: The Allied People’s Movement (APM ) Unveils Muftau Open Salawu As Deputy Governorship Candidate

The Allied People’s Movement (APM in Oyo State has officially unveiled Hon. Muftau Open Salawu of Ogbomoso As Deputy Governorship Candidate, marking a significant milestone in the party’s preparations for the forthcoming 2027 governorship election.

Speaking at the event, the deputy governorship candidate thanked the party leadership and members for the confidence reposed in her, describing her emergence as a call to greater service and sacrifice for the people of Oyo State and particularly in Ogbomoso and the Oke-Ogun zones.

Salawu was unveiled at the PDP/APM State Secretariat in Ibadan on Wednesday.

His nomination was unanimously adopted by stakeholders and other members of the party in attendance.

The party’s governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, said Salawu was carefully selected based on his track record as a public office holder.

Details later.

Suspected serial killer, other Agodi inmates graduate from PFN’s STP/TPJ courses

 Suspected serial killer in Ibadan, Sunday Sodipe, and over 100 other inmates of the Agodi Correctional Centre have graduated from the School Transformation Programme (STP) and The Prison Journey (TPJ) courses organised by the Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN), Oyo State chapter.

Sodipe was a prime suspect in a string of ritual killings in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Recall that the suspected serial killer, who was arrested on July 11, 2020, escaped from police custody in Mokola, Ibadan, on August 11 before he was rearrested on August 23, 2020.

The graduation ceremony, held on Tuesday at the facility in Ibadan, marked the completion of intensive discipleship and character reformation for the beneficiaries.

The inmates, who could not hide their joy at the graduation ceremony held at the Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, were seen dancing during a praise and worship session led by a team of singers.

Speaking at the event, Chairman, PFN Oyo State chapter, Prophet Boyede Sule, said the STP/TPJ programmes were designed to equip inmates with biblical values, life skills, and hope for reintegration after release.

He noted that the courses focus on transformation, forgiveness and responsible citizenship.

Boyede added that the course is also organised for the spiritual restoration of inmates.

He, however, reiterated PFN’s commitment to reaching more inmates with programmes that restore dignity and promote societal reintegration.

The Oyo PFN chairman also urged the graduands to become ambassadors of change while urging Nigerian youths to desist from activities that could lead them to prison.

“The 8 weeks programme is organised for the spiritual restoration ,restoration of dignity and promote societal reintegration of the inmates

“The courses were designed to equip inmates with biblical values, life skills and hope for reintegration after release.

“ My advise to Nigerian youths is to disengage from any act that can lead them to prison , if Nigeria is to be our future, our future must not be dented , our future must start on a very solid rock , for Nigeria to be good, I am seeing Nigeria youths as potential leaders by being a good and abiding citizens of Nigeria “

The Oyo State Chaplain, Nigeria Correctional Service, Reverend Sunday Odekunle, commended Prison Fellowship Nigeria for complementing government efforts in inmate rehabilitation.

He stated that the programme will help inmates become better persons after their release.

Meanwhile, during the event, family members, correctional officers and church volunteers witnessed the ceremony, and certificates were presented to the graduands amidst prayers and songs of praise.

Oriire Abduction: I Can Sacrifice Myself for the Release of Abducted Children – Oyo State Governor, Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has said he is willing to sacrifice himself to secure the release of children and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, stating that he is “almost 60 years old.”

The governor made the statement on Tuesday while addressing a group of peaceful protesters led by activist and social commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan.

“I can sacrifice myself for the release of the abducted children; I am almost 60 years old,” Makinde said during the address.

Responding to the protesters’ request to participate in the rescue operation, Makinde expressed confidence in the security architecture currently deployed, stating that it is capable of securing the safe release of the victims with minimal casualties.

According to the governor, available intelligence indicates that no additional casualties have been recorded among the abductees following the earlier killing of a Mathematics teacher during the incident.

Makinde, however, stressed that if the situation persists, he would personally volunteer to join the rescue mission despite the risks involved. He maintained that negotiating with kidnappers is not the most appropriate option for government.

The governor commended the protesters for their peaceful solidarity march, noting that public agitation and civic engagement often spur leaders and security agencies into swift action toward achieving positive outcomes.

The governor reiterated the state government’s commitment to working with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the victims and to address insecurity in the area.

Makinde also called for calm and urged residents to provide credible information to security operatives to aid rescue efforts. He emphasized that protecting lives and property remains a priority for his administration.

Earlier, Martins Vincent Otse said the solidarity walk was organized to support the government’s efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers and reunite them with their families as quickly as possible.

Otse also pledged to volunteer himself, alongside other youths, to participate in the rescue efforts in Oriire Local Government Area, as part of a broader commitment to tackling the growing menace of kidnapping and banditry across the country.

The Oriire abduction has drawn widespread attention in recent days, with civil society groups and individuals demanding faster action from authorities.