The husband of Mary Akanbi, one of the teachers abducted last Friday from two schools in the Oriire LGA of Oyo state, has appealed to the kidnappers to take him instead and release his wife and their 18-month-old baby.
The man spoke in a viral video clipped from an interview with Chude Jideonwo after the media personality visited Ogbomoso days after gunmen kidnapped teachers and pupils from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Oriire LGA.
Two people were killed during the attacks, while at least 45 schoolchildren, alongside a principal and several teachers, were reportedly abducted. One of the abducted teachers was later killed in captivity.
“We the victims, are the only people remaining in the community, with no security personnel and no protection whatsoever. Most of the security personnel who tried the rescue mission were all wasted,” the man said.
“I will gladly give myself to them for the sake of my wife and my child. Let them free my wife and my child and just take me instead.
“I am in the exact community where my family was taken. Let them come for me instead. They have taken everything; they have ruined my life.”
In a viral video, the abducted teacher had appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, to intervene and secure the release of the kidnapped teachers and pupils.
President Tinubu, on Monday, condemned the abduction and the reported “barbaric” killing of one of the abducted teachers, saying a “rescue operation is underway.”
“I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community,” the president had said.
“I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims.
“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims.”
By Adewale Adewale
