‘Pictures taken from Mali’ – Presidency dismisses viral photos of kidnapped Oyo students

The Presidency has dismissed circulating images allegedly showing abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, stating that the photographs did not originate from the incident.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the viral pictures being shared online as those of the kidnapped students were actually images of maltreated children in Mali.

He explained that an analysis by Africa54Research indicated that the pictures were taken in Mali in June 2020, during an incident in which a teacher was reported to have flogged his students.

According to him, the circulation of the images is a deliberate attempt by certain individuals to mislead the public and create panic over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State.

Onanuga further alleged that those behind the spread of the false images are likely sympathisers of terrorist groups, aimed at discrediting government efforts and security operations.

He said the government remains committed to securing the release of the abducted pupils and their teachers, and urged the public to disregard misinformation being spread on social media.

Onanuga said: “Some of the Images being shared as those of the kidnapped schoolkids of Oyo state were of maltreated kids in Mali 

“Pictures taken in Mali in June 2020, when a teacher flogged his young students, have been shared on social media to make people believe they are the pictures of the abducted Oyo students, an analysis by Africa54Research has revealed.

“The distributors of the images are most probably terrorists’ sympathisers, out to sow fears in our society and paint the government and the security forces black, as the government is making efforts to get the kids and their teachers released.”