I Declared for Presidency at 4:00 p.m., and by 9:00 a.m. Children Were Abducted — Gov. Seyi Makinde

In a recent post on Channels tv, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed the timeline of a recent security incident in the state, describing the sudden abduction of children shortly after he publicly declared his presidential ambition as a major challenge his administration has had to confront.

Speaking during a consultation visit with a fellow governor, Makinde explained that insecurity had not been a recurring issue throughout his administration until the recent incident, which he said occurred two months before his remarks.

The governor said his administration had enjoyed a relatively stable security situation in Oyo State for years before the unfortunate development.

"To situate things in proper perspective, I want you to note two major things," Makinde said.

"One, this is my very first job in the public space. And I've been on this job for seven years and maybe two months."

He explained that the security challenge happened on May 15, stressing that the state had not experienced a situation of that nature during most of his tenure.

"The insecurity you mentioned happened two months ago, May. May 15. So, for seven years, we didn't witness anything like this in Oyo State," he stated.

Makinde then recalled the timing of the incident, saying it occurred shortly after he announced his intention to seek a higher political office.

"I declared for the presidency of Nigeria at 4:00 p.m., and by 9:00 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted," the governor said.

He acknowledged that his administration was still dealing with the aftermath of the incident and admitted that more steps would be required to strengthen security in the state.

"We're still feeling through all of this. Yes, we may have to do more and we're trying to do more," he said.

The governor added that Oyo State was working with the Federal Government on security matters, noting that state governors often face limitations because key security agencies operate under federal authority.

Makinde said the situation had highlighted the need to review Nigeria's security structure, arguing that officials given responsibility for security should also have the authority required to respond effectively.

"We need to look at our architecture and be sure that where you give responsibility, you also give authority to deal with those responsibilities," he said.

He maintained that addressing insecurity would require cooperation between different levels of government, while assuring residents that his administration would continue working toward improving safety and protecting citizens.