Viral Photos Are Maltreated Children In Mali, Not Abducted Oyo Pupils – Presidency

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has debunked claims that viral images online show the condition of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State.

Reports had suggested that photos circulating on social media were linked to the kidnapped Oyo pupils.

But in a statemen, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, said the images had nothing to do with the incident.

He explained that the pictures were taken in Mali and show children who had been maltreated.

According to him, findings by Africa54Research traced the images back to June 2020 in Mali, where a teacher was accused of flogging students.

Onanuga warned that sharing such content is an attempt to mislead the public and stir fear over the abduction in Oyo State.

He added that those spreading the images may be trying to create panic and damage the reputation of the government and security agencies, even as efforts continue to secure the safe release of the affected pupils and their teachers.

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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian principals and teachers recently began protests across the country over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo.