Oyo Kidnap: APM questions APC over ‘reported bandit links’

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Allied People’s Movement (APM) on Wednesday alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had questions to answer over its ‘reported connection with bandits’, saying the ruling party’s fierce opposition to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for a United Nations-backed investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers was suspicious.

The opposition party said the debate had moved beyond Makinde’s appeal for an international probe, arguing that the intensity of the backlash from APC leaders had shifted attention to why some political figures appeared uncomfortable with an independent investigation into one of the country’s most disturbing security incidents.

The position was contained in a statement by the APM’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, who accused senior APC leaders, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, of attacking the governor instead of supporting efforts to establish the facts surrounding the abduction.

“Perhaps APC leaders have something to tell Nigerians regarding their party’s reported connection with bandits. This is especially against the backdrop of earlier confession by a former APC leader that the party’s leaders imported terrorist elements from neighboring countries as political mercenaries in the build-up to the 2015 general elections,” Yusuf said.

The party insisted there was nothing unusual about seeking international support in the fight against terrorism, maintaining that Makinde’s request neither diminished Nigeria’s sovereignty nor cast doubt on its institutions.

As Yusuf put it: “Governor Makinde’s demand for international probe on this act of terrorism against Nigerians did not undermine the sovereignty of our nation as claimed by APC leaders; rather, it reinforces our sovereignty in the global arena by strengthening Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners in the fight against terrorism, which is an international crime against humanity.”

The APM argued that Nigeria had repeatedly sought foreign cooperation in tackling terrorism, recalling that President Bola Tinubu had appealed for international collaboration, including at the United Nations General Assembly, while also seeking support from officials of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during a meeting in June 2024.

It maintained that if the Federal Government could seek international assistance to combat terrorism, there was no basis for condemning Makinde’s call for external scrutiny into the circumstances surrounding the Oyo abduction.

The party also reproduced Makinde’s explanation for requesting an independent international review.

According to Makinde: “The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions.

“I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, call on the appropriate international human rights organisations and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution.

“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions; rather, it is intended to reinforce confidence, ensure that the truth is established, and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence, or affiliation, is held accountable.”

The APM said the criticism directed at the governor only reinforced its belief that those opposed to an independent inquiry had yet to explain why they were resisting efforts to uncover the truth.

“Only those unquieted by guilt and complicity, for which they are afraid of probe, will become panicky, irrational and desperate to suppress the truth by speaking against genuine efforts to unravel the facts,” Yusuf said.

The opposition party further said senior APC figures, including Oshiomhole and Akume, should have been among those demanding a thorough investigation rather than criticising Makinde for seeking accountability.

Reaffirming its support for its presidential candidate, the APM said uncovering the truth behind the abduction was vital to strengthening public confidence in the country’s security response and safeguarding Nigerians.

The party also commended security agencies for rescuing the abducted schoolchildren and their teachers, praising their gallantry and professionalism. It urged security personnel to remain steadfast in protecting lives and property and sustaining the fight against terrorism across the country.