Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has disclosed that federal security operatives have been deployed in the state for the past two weeks, with the state government holding up to four meetings with them daily as part of intensified rescue efforts for abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

The governor made te revelation on Tuesday while addressing a joint protest at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

“I’ve heard from the Federal Government. Security operatives have been here for the past two weeks. They spent their salah here. I have been meeting with them morning and night, sometimes three or four times in a day,” Makinde said.

Declaring the situation “a time of national distress,” the governor urged unity, saying: “It is not the time to trade blame. It is not the time to play politics”.

Makinde gave his strongest assurance yet: “I can give you the assurance that our children and their teachers, by the grace of God, will return safely”.

The abduction, which occurred 18 days ago, has triggered an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, a nationwide protest, and widespread outrage.

In his remarks, the National President of NANS, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye Afeez, described the abductors as “monsters” and urged Nigerians to unite against what he termed a common enemy.

The state NUT Chairman, Comrade Hassan Fatai, said teachers are demanding justice and urgent action, adding that teachers will remain away from classrooms until the abducted victims are released.