Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed the arrest of suspected informants linked to the recent school attacks in the Oriire Local Government Area, where seven teachers were abducted and an Islamic Studies teacher was killed.
Briefing journalists on Sunday following a high-level security meeting with state service commanders, Makinde revealed that six suspects were apprehended within the locality, while three other persons of interest are currently in custody.
Preliminary intelligence indicates that those arrested may have aided the gunmen.
Meanwhile, the exact number of missing students remains unconfirmed.
Makinde said security forces are actively collaborating with school authorities and local communities to establish a definitive count.
“The information available is that about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them we believe are informants. Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested,” the governor said.
He linked the attack to the movement of armed groups fleeing intensified military operations against terrorists and bandits in the North-West.
“With the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West, they will keep moving southward,” Makinde said.
The governor warned that states in the South-West must strengthen their security architecture to repel or neutralise criminals displaced from conflict zones in other parts of the country.
“But the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure points.”
Makinde said the state government would not depend on military action alone in addressing the crisis, noting that consultations were ongoing with community elders, religious leaders and officials of the Baptist Convention, as one of the affected schools belongs to the church.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just a kinetic approach. We are engaging leaders, elders and religious leaders, especially at the Baptist Convention,” he said.
The governor appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring families of the abducted victims that the government and security agencies were working to secure their safe return.
“We are not taking this lightly. We will do everything within our means to resolve this quickly and bring our children back safely.”
Labeling the incident “very difficult and challenging,” Makinde announced that the state government will launch daily press briefings to keep residents informed about rescue operations and ongoing security efforts.
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