The Oyo State Government has raised the alarm over repeated cases of kidnapping involving indigenes of the state, following the reported abduction of 18 students returning from Sokoto State.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, raised the concern in a statement issued yesterday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital.
Oyelade questioned whether the recent incidents were isolated criminal attacks or part of a coordinated attempt to target Oyo residents, particularly students travelling outside the state.
The commissioner’s reaction followed the reported abduction of 18 Oyo State students who were returning home from Sokoto at the weekend.
The latest incident came weeks after students and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of the state were abducted, raising fresh concerns over the safety of Oyo residents travelling to other parts of the country.
Oyelade said the state had recorded what he described as unusual kidnapping incidents for the third time in four months.
He asked: “Are we being targeted? Are we under organised siege? Are these uncommon decoys to distract us? Is this a political attack targeting scholarship and conviction?”
The commissioner recalled that on May 15, students and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area were abducted and remained in captivity for 56 days.
Following the incident, Governor Seyi Makinde constituted a Judicial Panel of Inquiry on July 31, headed by Justice (Prof.) Mojeed, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
Oyelade said the panel had submitted its report last week, adding that the development had generated public interest.
According to him, two separate kidnapping attacks have occurred in the state since the submission of the panel’s report.
“Ever since the submission of the report, two serial kidnapping attacks have been foisted on Oyo State. And we ask: Is this a coincidence? If it is, it is one too many,” he said.
The commissioner said the people of Oyo State were integral members of Nigeria and deserved to know those allegedly attempting to restrict their freedom, access to education and political participation.
He said the government remained concerned about the safety of its citizens, particularly students and other residents travelling outside the state.
Oyelade called for greater vigilance and stronger security measures to protect Oyo indigenes and prevent further attacks.
