Oyo State Government has accused its Imo State counterpart of breaching protocol by failing to communicate directly and officially with it over the release of corps members abducted while travelling from Oyo State to Imo State.
The state government faulted the communication between the Imo State government and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, concerning the release of the corps members.
Speaking on a radio programme in Ibadan on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State governor, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the corps members should have been formally handed over to the Oyo State government after their debriefing by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Olanrewaju, however, expressed relief over their release and reunion with their families, stressing that the welfare of the victims remained the government’s primary concern.
“We are glad that they have been released and reunited with their families. The incident did not happen in Oyo State but the lives of every citizen matter to the Oyo State Government,” he said.
He explained that the state government had collaborated with its Imo counterpart following the abduction, adding that the corps members should ideally have been handed over to Oyo State because they travelled from the state.
“We collaborated with the Imo State Government after the corps were abducted and the ideal thing is that they should have been handed over to the Oyo State Government because they are from Oyo State. The government will now ensure they are reunited with their families,” Olanrewaju said.
He, however, maintained that the manner in which the release was communicated would not affect the state government’s commitment to supporting the victims.
“But that has not been done. It is not a problem. We are glad that no lives were lost. The concern of Governor Seyi Makinde is the safe return of the victims, and that has happened.
“However, this does not affect governance in Oyo State, and the state government is committed to supporting the victims, despite the manner in which their release was communicated,” he said.
On concerns about communication gaps in recent security incidents involving Oyo State, the CPS said the government had been working with the federal government and relevant security agencies but suggested that political considerations could influence public reactions to security developments.
“We have been working with the federal government and other security agencies but you know it is a political season and everyone will be looking for political advantage,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing reports that the victims’ parents paid ransom to secure their release, the governor’s spokesperson said he could not dispute the families’ claims but maintained that the Oyo State government did not pay any ransom.
“Imo state is the lead government in this case but we collaborated. I cannot counteract the statement of the victims’ families that they paid ransom but the Oyo State Government did not pay ransom to secure the release of the victims,” he said.