Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated that he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safe rescue of schoolchildren, a teacher, and a principal from Oriire Local Government Area, stressing that Oyo State will never experience a tragedy like the notorious Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.
Makinde made the statement on Tuesday while speaking to protesters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as anxiety continued to mount over the whereabouts and safety of the victims.
The governor revealed that efforts to secure the release of the children and school officials had already resulted in the death of a Nigerian Army officer, disclosing that a lieutenant lost his life during an operation carried out two days earlier.
He explained that the state government, working alongside security agencies, was deploying every available measure to ensure the victims were rescued safely while minimising further casualties.
Addressing the demonstrators, Makinde insisted that Oyo State would never become another Chibok, drawing comparisons with the 2014 abduction of hundreds of students from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.
“That’s our position. First, let me make it very, very clear. Oyo State is not Chibok, and it will not be Chibok,” the governor said.
“We have lost men, even soldiers, officers. I can confirm to you that a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army was killed two days ago. Yes.”
Makinde said he would personally make any sacrifice necessary if it would guarantee the safe return of the children.
“So, um, if you ask me, if you ask me, can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out? I will do it,” he said.
“I’ve lived a good life. I’m almost sixty. It doesn’t matter. My own father died at seventy-six.”
The governor, however, noted that authorities were carefully assessing all available options to prevent additional deaths while pursuing the rescue of the victims.
“But what we want to do is, uh… This is Oyo State. They know that this is not Chibok, and our children will never be in the same situation as Chibok children,” he stated.
“We’re doing everything possible, including what you’ve suggested. But if there’s the potential for needless loss of lives, we’ve lost a, a teacher already.”
He added that the government’s foremost concern remained protecting lives and avoiding further casualties throughout the rescue mission.
“If we can avoid losing more, we will avoid losing more. But if we get to the point that certain people have to be sacrificed, including myself, we will do it,” Makinde said.
Makinde reaffirmed that the state government and security agencies would continue exploring every possible option to secure the safe return of the victims, maintaining that Oyo State would not permit a repeat of the Chibok tragedy.
