Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called for more patience over the ongoing efforts to rescue teachers and pupils abducted in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities of Oriire Local Government Area, noting that all hands have been on deck towards bringing the abductees back safely.
The governor stated this on Friday, while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Air Force led by the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar A. Suleh, which paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde, who appreciated the Air Force for its support since the incident occurred, noted that while the two Diamond-42 Surveillance Aircraft purchased by the Oyo State Government are still being assembled at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Lagos, the Force yielded its Diamond-42 Aircraft for surveillance efforts and rescue process, adding that this has provided the government with real-time information being worked on to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted residents.
He declared that the state understands and appreciates what the ground troops are facing in the bid to rescue the abductees, and that patience is required to successfully carry out the operation.
The governor, who appreciated the Chief of Air Staff and the officers and men of the Air Force for their support since the children and their teachers were kidnapped, said the state has enjoyed tremendous support from the officers and men in Ibadan and the special support deployed by the CAS to support the operation.
He said: “We are distressed, but the support that we have received, especially from the Air Force, has given us a lot of encouragement and has given a lot of insight into what we are dealing with.
“When we took the decision to get the Diamond-42 Aircraft, it was taken with the Air Force in mind. We were going to go for the Caravan. In fact, we already sent people out and they had given us the cost of the Caravan. Then, we consulted with the Air Force. We set up a team and said, how do we ensure that we have a platform that if we need maintenance, engineering support, or we need to train pilots for that platform, we can get them easily? When they brought their report, it was obvious that the Diamond-42 was the way to go.
“Yes, we procured the Diamond-42 Aircraft, and the Air Officer Commanding has just confirmed that those aircraft are at the hangar of the Air Force in Lagos. But the Nigeria Air Force provided us with a replacement to carry out the surveillance work during this incident.
“We bought those aircraft without anyone’s prompting. We went that route because we felt we required that to make Oyo State even safer and for the adjoining states as well, because like the AOC said, the Air Force is stretched. Kidnapping and banditry are happening all over the country, and we felt that whatever we could do at the sub-national level to make their job a little easier, we should do it.
“Our surveillance aircraft are being assembled and very soon, they will be deployed to do what they’re supposed to do. So, please, let the Chief of Air Staff know that we will take up the offer of further support from the Nigerian Air Force to train our people and also for maintenance of the aircraft. We know you have a hangar in Kaduna where you do the maintenance. So, I expect that once they are deployed, we will have an agreement with the Nigerian Air Force to provide further support for us.”
The governor also used the opportunity of the visit to commend the Nigerian Air Force in Ibadan for its cordial relationship with the civilian population, noting that his government would continue to do everything possible to deepen the relationship.
He assured that the state government would redeem its promises to the Air Force, including those made with regards to the completion of the Air Force Base, among others.
Speaking earlier, AVM Suleh tendered the apology of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday K. Aneke, who he noted wanted to lead the delegation to visit the governor but could not do so because he had another urgent national assignment.
He sympathised with the governor on the abduction of teachers and pupils in Yawota and Ahoro Esinele communities of Oriire Local Government, noting that kidnapping had become a national security challenge.
He added that the Chief of Air Staff asked the delegation to assure Governor Makinde and residents of Oyo State that all units of the Nigerian Air Force would continue to offer the best of their services towards a quick resolution of the situation.
The Air Commanding Officer equally appreciated the governor for his support towards the Air Force Units participating in the search and rescue efforts as well as for his administration’s support in constructing the perimeter fencing of the Air Force School in Iyana Offa, dualisation of the Air Force Base Road in Ajia, and the approval of land for Post-Service Housing Schemes and Farms at the Ibadan Circular Road and around Eruwa.
On the Air Officer Commanding’s entourage were the Group Managing Director, Nigeria Air Force Investments Ltd, Air Vice Marshal Ibitayo Victor Ajiboye; and the Commander of the Air Force Station, Ibadan; Air Commodore D.U. Njoku, among others.
Government functionaries, who joined the governor to receive the Nigerian Air Force delegation, were the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Adeniyi; Special Adviser on Security, Mr Abayomi Fagbenro; Executive Adviser on Security Coordination, Major-Gen Lukman Tokunbo Omoniyi (rtd); Executive Assistant on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); and the Amotekun Commandant, Col. Bisiriyu Olayinka Olayanju (rtd).
