President Bola Tinubu has strongly condemned the killing of an abducted schoolteacher in Oyo State, describing the incident as a “barbaric and unacceptable” attack on the nation’s education system, while directing security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue remaining victims.
In a viral video on Monday, one of the abducted teachers at Community High School, Ahoro Esinele, identified as Oyedokun M.O, was shot and beheaded.
Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for the presidency, in a statement on Monday, conveyed Mr Tinubu’s sympathy to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state.
He said, “I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community. I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims.”
The president said his administration was working with the Oyo State government to ensure the safe release of all abductees.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police and the commissioners of police in Oyo and Kwara states for their swift intervention and deployment of a tactical team and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to rescue the victims.
Mr Tinubu noted that the IGP had been leading the tech-driven operation, while assuring that the perpetrators of the attack and their collaborators would be apprehended and sanctioned accordingly.
“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
He called on the National Assembly to expedite the enactment of policies that would establish state police to strengthen security, particularly in underserved areas.
“Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” he said.
