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

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

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the viral pictures being shared online arsenic those of the kidnapped students were really images of maltreated children successful Mali.

He explained that an investigation by Africa54Research indicated that the pictures were taken successful Mali successful June 2020, during an incidental successful which a teacher was reported to person flogged his students.

According to him, the circulation of the images is simply a deliberate effort by definite individuals to mislead the nationalist and make panic implicit the abduction of schoolchildren successful Oyo State.

Onanuga further alleged that those down the dispersed of the mendacious images are apt sympathisers of violent groups, aimed astatine discrediting authorities efforts and information operations.

He said the authorities remains committed to securing the merchandise of the abducted pupils and their teachers, and urged the nationalist to disregard misin...