“Only God can prevent unfortunate circumstances from befalling those children…. So we would all be praying that God will pacify the hearts of the abductors,” Soun of Ogbomoso said.
“When government officials came, they brought rice and money, but the parents rejected it, insisting all they wanted was the safe rescue of their children,” said the village chief.
Dozens of Oriire schoolchildren and staffers were abducted by terrorists on May 15.
“We all need prayers. You can’t blame one man that the lord placed in a position,” said Yinka Alaseyori .
“Only WAEC candidates and teachers involved in the examination process are expected to be in school,” a teacher in Ibadan said.
Popular radio broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat has emerged as the Accord Party’s consensus governorship candidate in Oyo state.
The speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has appealed to Muslims to observe Eid-el-Kabir by praying for the release of kidnapped Oriire students.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has deployed 1,797 personnel, including special marshals, to ensure a free traffic flow during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
The police command in Oyo state says it killed three suspected kidnappers and rescued a hostage.
“As we approach the next election, there is a strong gang-up against us. They are plotting to field several candidates from our region in the South,” said Mr Osoba.
