Oyo Govt Denies Paying Ransom for Abducted Pupils, Says VDM Lied

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

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government described the allegation as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.

Prince Oyelade said the claim was “far from the truth”, accusing “irresponsible bloggers” of spreading unverified information capable of causing confusion and undermining ongoing security operations.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the commissioner stressed that neither the Oyo State Government nor the Federal Government had paid any ransom — directly or indirectly — to the kidnappers. He noted that rescue efforts were being pursued strictly through legitimate security channels.

He urged residents to disregard the circulating reports and rely solely on official government communication, warning that misinformation could jeopardise sensitive rescue operations and endanger lives.

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

ADVERTISEMENT

The statement read in part: “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.”

ValidViewNetwork reports that the government reiterated its commitment to transparency, public safety, and responsible communication as rescue efforts continue.