By LEVI JOHNSON
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has stirred controversy after claiming that he knows the exact location where schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State are being held.
The pupils were reportedly kidnapped on May 15, 2026, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, a development that has heightened concerns over insecurity and the safety of students across the country.
Speaking during an interview with Vanguard, Adebayo asserted that he possesses knowledge of the whereabouts of the abductors and their victims. According to him, he has never encountered a kidnapping case in Nigeria where he could not identify the location of those responsible.
According to Vanguard the SDP stalwart maintained that if provided with the necessary support, he could personally lead security operatives to the hideout where the children are allegedly being held.
“I have never known of any case of kidnapping where I don’t know where the kidnappers are,” Adebayo said during the interview.
“If you give me a car and a driver, I will drive you to exactly where the kidnappers are with the children. I won’t miss my way. I know where they are exactly,” he added.
The former presidential candidate, however, did not disclose how he obtained the information or provide details about the alleged location of the abductors.
His remarks have generated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why such information has not been formally shared with security agencies if indeed it could assist in rescuing the victims.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor other relevant security agencies had publicly responded to Adebayo’s claims.
The abduction of the schoolchildren remains a major security concern in Oyo State, with parents and residents anxiously awaiting developments that could lead to the safe return of the victims.
Observers say that if Adebayo’s claims are credible, swift collaboration with security authorities could prove crucial in ongoing efforts to secure the children’s release and apprehend those responsible for the kidnapping.
Authorities have continued investigations into the incident, while calls grow for intensified security operations aimed at rescuing the abducted pupils and tackling the rising threat of kidnapping across Nigeria.
