A fresh political storm erupted in Abuja on Friday as a pro-Tinubu group held a counter-protest accusing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of concealing the whereabouts of over 40 abducted children and teachers to advance his presidential ambitions.

The protesters, who gathered in the nation’s capital carrying placards with messages such as “Allow President Tinubu to Work,” directly linked the governor to the failure to rescue the victims who were kidnapped from a school in Oyo State weeks ago.

The group alleged that Governor Makinde, widely believed to be nurturing presidential aspirations for 2027, is deliberately frustrating federal efforts to locate the missing students and teachers in order to embarrass President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The protesters claimed that the governor’s actions amount to political sabotage, arguing that he is using the lives of innocent children as bargaining chips for personal political gain.

The demonstration marked a sharp escalation in the war of words between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the handling of the mass abduction.

Governor Makinde has fiercely denied the allegations, describing them as reckless, unfounded, and deeply insensitive to the suffering of the affected families. Through a statement by his information commissioner, the governor’s office accused the pro-Tinubu group of engaging in cheap politicking at a time of national distress. Makinde further disclosed that federal security operatives have been working on the ground in Oyo State for weeks, and he urged all parties to set aside partisan differences and focus on rescuing the 39 students and seven teachers still in captivity.

The counter-protest has drawn widespread criticism from civil society groups and ordinary Nigerians, many of whom condemned the politicisation of a kidnapping tragedy. Social media commentators questioned the logic of the allegations, with some describing the protest as a distraction from the urgent task of securing the victims’ release. Opposition figures have also weighed in, accusing the presidency of using surrogates to divert attention from broader security challenges facing the country.

As of Saturday morning, no official update had been given on the condition or location of the missing 46 individuals. Security agencies remain tight-lipped about ongoing rescue operations, while anxious families continue to wait in agony. The deepening political row has further complicated an already sensitive security situation, raising fears that the victims could become pawns in a larger political battle ahead of the 2027 elections.