‘Why I didn’t flee’ - Baale Esinele, begs govt for police station, army base ‘in order not to kill our schools’

Image caption: Elesinele of Esinele

‘Why I didn’t flee,’ – Baale Esinele, begs govt for police station, army base ‘in order not to kill our schools’

Jeremiah OYELEKE

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The traditional ruler of Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire local government area in Ogbomoso Oyo state, HRH Chief Tajudeen Abioye has given reasons he didn’t flee while the brouhaha over the abduction of 46 teachers and children in the area lasted.

Chief Abioye said many residents fled but he stayed put noting, “If I run away, won’t the town become desolate as the few remaining will also flee. It was a harrowing experience because a monarch wouldn’t want his community to be deserted.”

He now appealed to government to facilitate security presence in the area. “Oriire local government, which is the largest in the whole of Southwest Nigeria has only one divisional police office at Ikoyi; we have police post in Oolo and in Elere, all which are far from this place, a community bordering the vast Old Oyo National Park,” he said. “Government should be proactive and not wait till another calamity befalls (God forbids), when they would start another round of damage control, the cost will be higher. Aside a police divisional office, we also request the presence of an army base in Oriire local government area for constant patrol. That is what will also ensure schooling does not become a thing of the past in this area. We beg the government.”

He added, “Moreover, if I had runaway out of fear, it might have given a wrong signal that I had something to hide. No, I stayed put.”

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He thanked traditional rulers in Ogbomoso zone for their support saying many called him constantly to encourage him just as he expressed appreciation to the federal government and Governor Seyi Makinde for their efforts in providing security since, and for standing by them.

He expressed faith that all the abductees were rescued, “though we didn’t have the opportunity of counting them because they drove them straight to Ibadan.”

The traditional ruler admitted the wicked rumours peddled against him like that he was arrested, stressed he was never under any suspicion by his subjects.

He added, “Those who spread unfounded rumours, I hand them over to God, God will judge them. No indigene was arrested as accomplice but if there are among us, only God knows and will judge.”

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In similar vein, Seriki Fulani Oriire Alhaji Suleman Aliu also said, “Since I was born and came of age, I never experienced such joy when I heard of the rescue. We thank the federal government, Oyo state government and local governments and all Nigerians. We thank God especially the Oyo state governor, Oluwaseyi Makinde, we thank Tinubu also, we are speechless because we are filled with joy, our sorrow has turned into joy. We thank you media men too for your prompt reports.

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Likewise, Rev’d S.A. Oyekola of First Baptist Church, Yawota, who said one of the teachers and 40 kids of the church’s private basic school (the woman with a 2-year-old kid) were kidnapped, said he was happy for the rescue while also thanking the federal and state governments and other stakeholders.

Recall the victims who were abducted in their schools May 15, 2026, were safely rescued last Friday (July 10) through a combined effort of the military, police, DSS and local vigilantes. They are currently receiving treatment at a military hospital in Ibadan.