Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alleged that the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State may have been orchestrated to embarrass President Bola Tinubu.
Fayose made the claim during a televised interview while reacting to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers by gunmen in parts of Oyo State, an incident that sparked widespread concern and drew the attention of the Federal Government.
Following the abduction, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to the affected communities and assured residents that efforts were being intensified to secure the release of the victims.
Speaking on the incident, Fayose argued that state governments have primary responsibility for addressing local security challenges and should not be quick to place blame on the Federal Government.
“Let me branch to Oyo State.
Before you get to the president in the hierarchy of leadership and governance, there is local government, there is state.
State has security votes and there are people that are supposed to be working,” he said.
The former governor criticised the response of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, alleging that the governor did not act swiftly after the abduction occurred.
“In Oyo State, I strongly believe, though I might be wrong, but this sometimes might be orchestrated.
The governor of Oyo State had his nomination and that of his candidates in the face of this abduction,” Fayose said.
“He did not take any action, no steps were taken. It was after those nominations that he went to the families to visit them.”
Fayose further suggested that the incident may have been manipulated to portray the Federal Government in a negative light.
“I sometimes believe that the abduction at Oyo school was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu,” he stated.
As of the time of filing this report, Governor Makinde and the Oyo State Government had not responded to the allegations.
The abduction has continued to generate reactions from political stakeholders and security experts, with renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and tackle rising insecurity across the country.
I sometimes believe that the abduction at Oyo School was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu.
– Peter Ayodele Fayose, Former Ekiti State Governor, alleged pic.twitter.com/hT5rCrw5mr
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) June 1, 2026
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has pushed back against suggestions of negligence, insisting that security agencies have been actively engaged on the matter.
Governor Seyi Makinde, speaking through officials, said federal security operatives have been deployed in the state for the past two weeks and that government representatives have been holding meetings with them three to four times daily as part of ongoing security coordination efforts.
Security operatives from the federal government have been in Oyo State for the past two weeks, and we’ve been meeting with them three to four times daily.
– Governor Seyi Makinde spoke to the leadership of NLC, NUT, and NANS pic.twitter.com/BwCuTzkXIt
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) June 2, 2026
He also held meetings with leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Union of Teachers (NUT), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued directly addressing Fayose’s specific allegation.
The abduction continues to generate political reactions and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and curb insecurity across the country.
