The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Adebayo Lawal, on Sunday led a government delegation to communities in Oriire Local Government Area affected by Friday’s school abduction.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Lawal assured families of the victims that the abducted students and staff members would be rescued.
The state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan.
Lawal said the number of abducted persons had yet to be verified, adding that figures circulating in the media were incorrect.
“Until we do proper verification, we cannot put a figure to those abducted. For now, figures circulating in the media cannot be taken as correct,” he said.
The delegation visited Yawota and Esiele in Oriire South, where armed men attacked schools and abducted students and staff.
The deputy governor said the state government had responded swiftly, adding that security agencies engaged the suspected kidnappers in the bush and neutralised about three of them.
“We have pacified the residents and given assurances that those abducted will be rescued and brought back,” Lawal said.
He said the attackers targeted LA Basic School, Ahoro Esiele, Community High School and a private primary school around Ahorodada.
Lawal confirmed that one person and a teacher died in the attack, while injured victims were receiving treatment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Bowen University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.
He said security operatives, including the military, police, DSS, NSCDC and local hunters, were still pursuing the attackers.
“Oyo State is not giving an inch for banditry and criminality. The government is doing everything required to ensure adequate security so that citizens can live in peace,” he said.