Government Dismisses VeryDarkMan’s Claim as False, Says Security Agencies Still Working to Secure Victims’ Release
The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), that it paid ransom to terrorists for the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
The government described the allegation as false, insisting that no ransom was paid at any stage of efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked schools in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities, killing a teacher and a motorcycle rider before kidnapping 39 pupils and seven teachers.
In a viral video, VeryDarkMan claimed the state government had paid ransom to the kidnappers but that the victims remained in captivity nearly 50 days after the attack. He also expressed concern that public attention had shifted away from the incident while the children and their teachers were still missing.
Responding through an official statement, the Oyo State Government firmly rejected the allegation, stating that it has consistently worked with security agencies to secure the safe return of the victims.
“This is false. The Oyo State Government did not at any time pay ransom for the release of the children and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA. The government has been collaborating with security agencies to ensure they are safely returned to their families,” the statement read.
The government urged members of the public to disregard unverified information and allow security agencies to continue ongoing rescue operations aimed at bringing the abducted pupils and teachers home safely.
