Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said he is willing to make the ultimate personal sacrifice to secure the release of 46 pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area on 15 May, while insisting the state will not witness a tragedy similar to the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.
Makinde gave the assurance on Tuesday when he addressed protesters led by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan.
The protest followed growing public concern over insecurity in the state, particularly the kidnapping of schoolchildren and their teachers.
Addressing the demonstrators, the Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rescuing the victims, stressing that all efforts were being deployed to secure their safe return.
“Let me make it very, very clear, Oyo State is not Chibok and we will not be Chibok,” Makinde declared.
He revealed that security operatives involved in the rescue mission had made significant sacrifices, including the loss of personnel.
“We have lost men, even soldiers and officers, and I can confirm to you that a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed a few days ago,” he said.
In an emotional moment, the Governor said he would not hesitate to give his life if it would ensure the safe return of the abducted children
“If you ask me, can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out? I will do it. I have lived a good life, I’m almost 60 and it doesn’t matter. Our children will never be in the same situation as Chibok children,” he said.
Makinde noted that authorities were handling the situation with caution to avoid further casualties, acknowledging that the rescue effort remained delicate.
“We’ve lost a teacher already. If we can avoid losing more, we will avoid losing more, but if we get to the point that certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it,” he added.
He also expressed understanding of the protesters’ demands, stating that civic action plays a role in holding leaders accountable.
“If I am not in government, I will be you; I’ll be protesting with you. I do not have anything against what you are doing,” he said.
While accepting responsibility as governor, Makinde pointed out that state governments do not exercise full control over all security agencies, which are largely under federal authority.
“I will not shift blame. Our reality is that the state government is not in charge of all the security agencies,” he said.
He explained that although governors collaborate with security chiefs, they lack direct powers to deploy federal forces.
The Governor added that security has remained a priority since he assumed office in 2019, citing the creation of the Amotekun Corps as part of efforts to strengthen local security structures.
Earlier, VeryDarkMan said the protest aimed to pressure authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted victims. He criticised the lack of clear information about the children’s condition and the delay in securing their release.
“We are here to also commit ourselves. If the governor does not amend, we are ready to volunteer ourselves to go into the bushes with the police, army, air force and any security operatives that are ready,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the victims’ welfare.
“As of now, we do not even know the condition of the children. We do not know if the children are still alive. Over 45 of them were taken into the bush with their teachers, and one of the teachers has been beheaded. It is quite unfortunate,” he said.
The activist added that the protesters were seeking clear assurances from the government on the progress of rescue efforts.
