- Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed visited Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan on Sunday to commiserate with the government and people over the mass abduction of more than 45 schoolchildren and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area.
- Flanked by leadership from the Allied People’s Movement, Mohammed demanded an immediate structural review of Nigeria’s security framework to bridge communication gaps and enhance cooperation between defense agencies and local communities.
- Attributing the lingering security crisis to deep-seated governance failure, economic hardship, and internal collusion, the visiting governor charged the Nigerian electorate to actively use their voting power in upcoming elections to transform leadership.
The security crisis gripping parts of Oyo State took center stage on Sunday, June 14, 2026, as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed arrived at the private residence of Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the high-profile solidarity visit followed a devastating armed incursion on May 15, when terrorists stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele.
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The violent assault resulted in the murder of a teacher and the mass kidnapping of over 45 students and educational staff.
Accompanied by prominent figures from the Allied People’s Movement, including National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle, Mohammed extended formal condolences from the people of Bauchi and offered strategic support to accelerate tactical recovery efforts.
Interacting with newsmen following a closed-door consultation, Governor Mohammed praised the defensive countermeasures and investigative tracks deployed by the Oyo State administration to secure the safe return of the hostages.
The visit also carried distinct political undertones, serving as an opportunity to congratulate Makinde on his emergence as the presidential candidate for the APM.
Describing his host as a resilient leader who possesses the modern energy required to reverse the country’s economic and administrative decline, Mohammed noted that the ongoing security vulnerabilities across sub-national entities remain a direct visual indicator of institutional breakdown and poverty.
Delving into the root causes feeding local criminal networks, the Bauchi governor warned against the dangers of internal betrayal, cautioning citizens against acting as logistics informants or operational collaborators for bandit syndicates.
He argued that sustainable safety cannot rely exclusively on military force, demanding instead that the populace take absolute responsibility for their collective destiny.
According to him, political leaders at local, state, and federal levels must face scrutiny for failing to insulate vulnerable populations from daily economic hardships.
He urged communities to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements promptly, and utilize upcoming democratic transitions to screen out incompetent administrators.
Receiving the northern delegation alongside senior cabinet officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, and Transport Commissioner Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, Governor Makinde acknowledged the regional support as negotiations for the release of the abductees continue.
The discussion concluded with a unified call from both executives for the federal legislature to back alternative policing strategies and non-kinetic interventions.
As specialized search-and-rescue teams maintain intelligence operations within the border forests of Oriire, civil society actors continue to pressure state authorities to optimize grassroots funding to eliminate the deep-seated illiteracy and lack of opportunities sustaining regional insurgencies.
