Oyo reacts to VDM’s claim of ransom payment to kidnappers + Video

The Oyo State Government has debunked allegations made by social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), that it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.

VDM had, in a viral social media video, claimed that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration paid a ransom to the bandits.

He however said the kidnappers reneged on the deal and refused to release the 39 pupils and seven teachers who have now spent 49 days in captivity.

He also expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of the victims and urged the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure their freedom.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, issued a swift denial, labeling the activist’s claims as completely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.

In a statement issued on Friday, Oyelade insisted that the allegation was “far from the truth”, accusing “irresponsible bloggers” of deliberately spreading falsehoods to create confusion and mislead members of the public.

Prince Oyelade stated that while both the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government have been working relentlessly to secure the safe release of the abducted pupils and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the kidnappers, either directly or indirectly.

He stressed that the ongoing rescue efforts are being pursued through legitimate security channels, urging the public to disregard the reports circulating on social media and other platforms.

The commissioner further appealed to residents to rely solely on information disseminated through official government channels, warning against the dangers of misinformation capable of undermining ongoing security operations.

He reaffirmed that the Oyo State Government remained in close collaboration with security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of all the abductees and bring the unfortunate incident to a successful conclusion.

The statement read: “The claim that the Oyo State Government paid ransom to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers is far from the truth.

“It is the handiwork of irresponsible bloggers whose intention is to create confusion and misinform the public.

“Although the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government have been making concerted efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted children and their teachers, no ransom has been paid to the bandits, either directly or indirectly.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard these false reports and rely only on information released through official government channels.

“The Oyo State Government remains committed to working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe release of the abductees and bring this sad event to a close.”