Posted by Chinenye on Tue 02nd Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
Ayodele Fayose has triggered a wave of reactions after alleging that recent school kidnappings in Oyo State may have been politically engineered to embarrass President Bola Tinubu.
(Ayodele Fayose. Photo Credit: Premuim Times)
Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has claimed that the recent kidnappings of teachers and students in various parts of the state were planned by the Oyo State Government in an effort to humiliate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on a television broadcast, Fayose made the accusation while challenging the Oyo State Government's handling of the situation and speculating that political factors might have played a role.
The former governor's remarks came after gunmen abducted students and teachers in a few Oyo State local government areas on Friday. The event attracted national attention and spurred the federal government to take action.
President Tinubu sent a powerful delegation to the impacted communities and assured residents that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims following the kidnapping.
"Although I could be mistaken, I firmly think that this may occasionally be planned in Oyo State. In the face of this kidnapping, the governor of Oyo State had both his own and his candidates' nominations," he stated.
"He visited the families after those nominations, but no action or steps were taken."
The former governor further said that the incident might have been planned on purpose to discredit the federal government.
Fayose said, "I occasionally think that the kidnapping at Oyo School was planned by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu."
At the time this article was filed, neither Governor Makinde nor the Oyo State Government had addressed the accusation.
Political players and security experts have continued to react to the kidnapping, renewing calls for more robust steps to combat insecurity and safeguard schools nationwide.