Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has called for calm and unity in the rescue efforts for the abducted Ogbomoso schoolchildren and teachers.

Makinde spoke in Ibadan on Tuesday while addressing protesters, including members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and other stakeholders who held a solidarity rally for the victims.

The NUT, NANS and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) had staged nationwide protests demanding the immediate rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers.

The demonstrations came amid an ongoing strike by teachers in Oyo state following a directive by the NUT national body in response to the continued captivity of the kidnap victims.

Addressing the protesters at the government house, Ibadan, Makinde appealed for restraint, insisting that all levels of government were working to secure the release of the victims.

“It’s not the time for us to say, well, it is the president that should have handled this, it is the governor or the local government. This is a time to pull together as one,” he said.

“We’re not dealing with normal human beings. We’re dealing with people… just think briefly, how will somebody take a fellow human being and slaughter him? Is that somebody that is normal? So these are not normal people.”

The governor appealed for patience and confidence in government efforts, noting that security agencies had been actively engaged in operations in the state.

“I can only appeal to you, for the students, the workers, the teachers, I can appeal to you to please have trust in your government,” he said. 

“We’re doing our best. I’ve heard from the federal government security operatives that have been here for the past two weeks. They spent Sallah here.

“I’ve been meeting with them morning, night, and sometimes three, four times in a day.”

Makinde warned against actions that could deepen division or distract from the rescue operation, urging unity in the face of the crisis.

“We shouldn’t provide oxygen to the people that want to see us divided. The response at this time should be to pull together, allow the government to see this through,” he said. 

"I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers will be rescued.”

The development follows protests held on Monday in Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and Abeokuta in Ogun state over the continued captivity of the victims.

On May 15, about 39 students and seven teachers were abducted across three schools in Oriire LGA.

During the attack, gunmen killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist.

Days later, Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was beheaded by the kidnappers, sparking nationwide outrage.

In separate videos posted on Instagram, Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who is among the abductees, said the kidnappers had threatened to kill another victim, urging authorities to urgently negotiate their release.

Makinde visited families of the victims on Saturday, while a federal delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, visited Ogbomoso on Sunday.

President Bola Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to secure the victims’ release.