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•VDM leads ‘Bring Them Back’ action, Makinde vows to rescue pupils, teachers safely
By Oluseye Ojo
Popular social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), yesterday, led a peaceful ‘Bring Them Back’ protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, demanding urgent action to secure the release of 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted from Ahoro Community in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
This is as Governor Seyi Makinde assured that efforts were underway to rescue the victims safely.
The protest, which attracted members of the Ratels movement and other concerned Nigerians, culminated in a meeting with Governor Makinde, who pledged that the state government would do everything possible to ensure the safe return of the abducted schoolchildren and their teachers.
Addressing protesters before meeting the governor, VDM said the demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the victims and pressing authorities to provide answers on the rescue efforts.
“We are here for one reason. We are here to find out from the Governor when the children are coming back, and what he is doing to bring them back,” he said.
The activist lamented that the fate of the abducted children remained uncertain, describing the situation as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“It is quite unfortunate that the issue bringing us together today happened in Oyo State. We don’t even know the condition of the children. We don’t know if they are still alive.
“Over 45 of them were taken into the bush, alongside their teachers and one of the teachers has reportedly been beheaded. It is a painful situation,” he stated.
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According to him, although insecurity has become a nationwide challenge, the abduction in Oriire has resonated deeply with Nigerians because it involves innocent children, whose safety and future are now in jeopardy.
VDM also expressed the readiness of members of his movement to support security agencies in lawful rescue operations if required.
“If the governor does not have enough men, we are ready to volunteer ourselves. We are ready to go into the bushes with the police, army, air force and any security personnel willing to undertake the operation,” he said.
Responding to the protesters, Governor Makinde thanked them for their peaceful conduct and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
The governor explained that rescue operations involving children require exceptional caution and strategic planning to avoid jeopardising the lives of the victims.
“These children cannot defend themselves or do anything for themselves. The operation to rescue them is a special type of operation if we do not want to lose any of those children,” he said.
In a message that drew applause from the demonstrators, the governor gave a personal assurance that the victims would be brought home safely.
“I, as the Governor of Oyo State, by the grace of God, will bring out those children,” he declared.
Makinde disclosed that communication had already been established as part of the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the victims, adding that relevant security agencies were actively working behind the scenes to resolve the crisis.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to security, the governor noted that one of the first major initiatives of his government was the establishment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
“Security was one of the cardinal principles of this administration when I came into office. We set up Amotekun, though it has not been armed adequately, but that is our reality for now,” he said.
The peaceful protest ended shortly after the engagement with the governor, with participants renewing their call for the immediate rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers and pledging to sustain advocacy efforts until the victims regain their freedom.
