Ransom Denied: Oyo State Govt Fires Back at Claims of Paying for Abducted Students

The Oyo State Government, through its Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, has strongly refuted allegations made by social media critic Martins Vincent, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), regarding the payment of ransom for the release of abducted pupils and teachers. The claims, initially posted by VDM on his official Facebook page, alleged that the government had paid a ransom to facilitate the victims' release but that the abductors failed to free them despite receiving the payment.

Commissioner Oyelade swiftly responded to these accusations, declaring them "untrue" and dismissing them as the "handiwork of irresponsible bloggers" aimed at creating confusion and misinforming the public. He emphasized that the claims were "far from the truth." Oyelade clarified that while both the Oyo State and federal governments are making concerted efforts and working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the 39 school children and seven teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly, as alleged by VDM.

VDM's viral video elaborated on his allegations, claiming that Governor Seyi Makinde had paid the ransom shortly after the abduction occurred, but the terrorists refused to release the victims. He highlighted that the students and teachers had been held in the forest for 50 days, expressing concern that "everybody has moved on as if nothing had happened," including President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian public. VDM voiced fears about the unknown condition of the victims, questioning if they were still alive or had been moved, and drew a grim parallel to the Chibok abduction where many girls remained in captivity years later.

In light of these refutations, the Oyo State Government urged the general public to disregard what it termed "false reports" and to rely solely on information released through official government channels. The government reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safe release of all abductees, aiming to "bring this sad event to an end."