Big Brother Naija star Adekunle Olopade has triggered heated debates with his remarks on the Oyo school abduction victims.
Gunmen seized around 39 pupils, including toddlers, and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire LGA on May 15, 2026. The hostages endured 56 days in captivity before security forces secured their rescue on July 10.
Adekunle questioned the victims’ quick composure in his post. “Trauma doesn’t wear one face. Some people cry. Some go numb. Some even smile. I know that. But there is a difference between a survivor’s smile and ‘a day-one PR’ video…”
”When I see people who spent 56 days in a forest smiling and sending thank-you messages within hours of release, I am allowed to ask questions,” he stated.
He drew from his own brief ordeal of alleged police abduction and harassment. “If one night facing death did that to me, what would 56 days have done to the teachers and these kids?”
READ ALSO:Why We’re Still Alive— Rescued Oyo Schoolchildren Send Message to Tinubu
Adekunle clarified he never claimed the kidnap was staged. Instead, he urged focus on trauma responses under harsh forest conditions with insects, rain, and threats.
Critics slammed the comments as insensitive amid national relief. Supporters defended his right to raise questions about psychological impacts.
The saga, which claimed at least one teacher’s life, had earlier sparked protests and celebrity appeals. President Tinubu and Governor Makinde however, welcomed the successful operation.
