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Violence: Call Aiyedatiwa to order, Akinterinwa’s campaign urges Tinubu

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

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Ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organistaion has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to order over alleged use of thugs and other criminally-minded miscreants against other aspirants.

The campaign organisation, in a statement, alleged that supporters and peaceful members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who turned to receive the president during his trip to family of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s family, were attacked by armed thugs who were working for the state governor.

The statement, signed by the spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Segun Ajiboye, said property and billboards of other aspirants were destroyed by the rampaging thugs during the attack.

The statement, tagged: “Ugly attacks on gubernatorial aspirants by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s thugs during President Tinubu’s visit to Ondo State”, said the organisation is being restrained by “the need to save our dear state from an ugly return to the dark days by those who harbor vaulting and mechanical ambition.”

It stated further: “You will recall that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was in Ondo state, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, to commiserate with the family of the former governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON and His Majesty the Olowo of Owo, Alayeluwa, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III. The president was also at the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere.

“As expected, the good people of Ondo state, particularly the peaceful members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress *APC), trooped out to welcome the president, who is the leader of the party and father of the nation..

“The people were joined by party leaders, party members. In an effort to give our leader a rousing welcome to the state, the different gubernatorial aspirants vying on the platform of APC mobilised their supporters to receive Mr President at the airport.

“The atmosphere was carnival-like. But that was until what ordinarilly was planned to be a rousing welcome and celebration of the visit of Mr President was turned to a theater of violence and bloody attack on APC members and supporters of other gubernatorial aspirants by thugs sponsored and fully armed by Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa, the governor of Ondo state.

“The well-orchestrated and executed attacks were carried out by some well-known thugs as well as members of the NURTW loyal to the governor of Ondo state, led by one Mr Eniba. The thugs, who brazenly fired gun shots into the air to cause confusion, went on a destruction spree as they attacked property, while billboards of other gubernatorial aspirants were defaced, pull down or out rightly destroyed.

“Party members perceived to be loyal to all gubernatorial aspirants sustained varied and diverse degree injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them, while those supporting Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa were spared. T-Shirts, faze caps and other insignia wore by members of the targeted aspirants were torn to shreds.

“The thugs who carried out the orchestrated attacks were armed with all sorts of dangerous weapons. It is sad to note that many of our supporters with deep cuts are in the hospitals receiving treatments at the moment. It is, however, surprising that no aspirant other than the governor was spared of the attacks.

“Let me state here that the need for this press statement is not borne out of fear or inability to protect our supporters. We have the capacity to give adequate protection to all our members who have remained peaceful in the face of this dastardly attack. We are also not unaware of the overriding need to save our dear state from an ugly reenactment of the dark days by those who harbor vaulting and mechanical ambition.

“At this juncture, as members of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, we would also love to state that as responsible leaders and members of our party with genuine intentions to serve our dear people, we are unable and will not accept the imposition on the party members a regime of panic and fear in other to supplant popular participation in a democratic process aimed at emplacing accountable and responsive leadership.

“We, therefore, call on Mr President and the national chairman of the APC to prevail on Mr Governor to halt the use of thugs to advance his political interest. The field is wide enough for everyone to operate

“Also, we urge all security agencies to not only to be on red alert against future occurrence but also ensure that those who carried out these dastardly attacks are apprehended and brought o books to serve as deterrent to others who may be emboldened by this barbaric act.”

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Ogbomoso pupils, teachers rescue a big relief to Nigeria – Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

July 10, 2026

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President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening said the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo state has brought relief to the entire nation.

The president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that Tinubu “expressed profound joy” over the successful rescue of the victims.

Onanuga said the president commended the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the police “for working round the clock in the last 56 days to secure the release of the abducted children and their teachers without any collateral damage and for arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.”

Onanuga said Tinubu also expressed regret over the suffering endured by the children, their teachers, their families, and the nation since the abduction.

The president praised the Oyo state government for working closely with the federal government throughout the rescue operation and urged the state to strengthen security around schools.

“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” the statement reads.

“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular.

“On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.

“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end.”

The president also directed emergency agencies to work with the Oyo state government to provide the rescued children and teachers with all necessary medical care and relief support.

According to reports, the pupils and their teachers were rescued during a joint operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army and the police, backed by intelligence from the DSS.

A security source said at least nine of the bandits were killed during the operation, while eight were arrested and are in the custody of the DSS.

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Makinde thanks Tinubu over rescue of abducted Ogbomoso pupils, teachers, says it’s a big relief

Published

10 hours ago

July 10, 2026

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has said that he is overjoyed following the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA of the state.

The victims regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity, following a coordinated operation involving the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police.

Speaking with Channels Television shortly after the rescue, Makinde described the development as a huge relief for the state.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for pushing for their release.

“It is such a big relief for all of us. Just right now, I am overjoyed and can hardly say much,” the governor said.

“I use this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the service commands, the police, DSS, military and, of course, the president for pushing for their release.”

On May 15, gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA.

The sad incident prompted the Oyo state government to shut schools in four LGAs as security agencies intensified rescue efforts.

Protests were organised in some parts of the country to demand the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren.

On May 18, Makinde said one of the teachers abducted during the attack was killed in captivity.

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Eight kidnappers arrested, others killed – Presidency

Published

11 hours ago

July 10, 2026

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Following the heart-warming news of the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Presidency has confirmed that eight of the kidnappers have been arrested and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services, while some others were neutralised during the operation.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, disclosed this in a follow-up post on his verified X handle on Friday after he announced the victims’ release.

Onanuga said no concession was made to the terrorists to secure the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers.

Onanuga explained that the kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded was neither freed nor spared, as he remains under prosecution for offences linked to his terrorist activities.

He wrote, “Updated: in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.

“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”

He added that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive account of the operation.

The pupils and teachers had spent weeks in captivity after gunmen stormed three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of the local government area on May 15, killing a teacher and later beheading another in a video that sparked national outrage.