Outrage spread across the country on Sunday after distress videos of abducted teachers and pupils from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State surfaced online, prompting the Senate, Yoruba leaders and security stakeholders to demand urgent action.
The victims were kidnapped on Friday when armed men on motorcycles attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School around 9:30am.
Among those abducted were pupils, students, teachers and the principal of Community High School, Mrs Alamu.
The attackers also killed an assistant headmaster, Mr Adesiyan, while an okada rider was reportedly shot dead after resisting attempts to surrender his motorcycle.
In one of the viral videos, Mrs Alamu appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Christian Association of Nigeria and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure their release.
“We have been here since Friday,” she said, pleading for a peaceful resolution to prevent loss of lives.
Another abducted teacher, Temitope Mary Dahunsi, said the children had been crying in captivity since the attack.
“We need help from the Federal Government, the state government, the church and the community. Please help us,” she pleaded.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed receipt of the videos, saying the footage was undergoing forensic examination to aid investigations and rescue operations.
Police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said security agencies had intensified intelligence-driven efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
Reacting to the incident, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the abductions in Oyo and Borno states as “an attack on the future of Nigeria,” stressing the urgent need for state police.
Bamidele said the National Assembly would prioritise legislative measures aimed at tackling insecurity, including constitutional amendments to establish state police and strengthen anti-terror laws.
He also urged governments to fully implement the Safe School Initiative to better protect learning institutions nationwide.
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, warned that the latest attack reinforced fears that the South-West was increasingly under threat from bandits and terrorists.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group said governments in the region must treat security as their highest priority and ensure no community remained vulnerable to attacks.
Afenifere questioned the effectiveness of existing security measures, including Amotekun, surveillance systems and intelligence aircraft acquired by Oyo State.
The Oyo State Government, however, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, who visited affected communities on Sunday, said security operatives, including soldiers, DSS personnel, police officers, NSCDC officials and local hunters, were combing forests in search of the attackers.
Lawal disclosed that some kidnappers had already been killed during confrontations with security forces.
“Oyo State is not giving an inch for banditry and criminality,” he said, while assuring families that the government remained committed to securing the victims’ safe return.
He added that authorities were still verifying the exact number of abducted persons, saying figures circulating online had yet to be confirmed.
Following the attack, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the immediate revitalisation of the Safe School Initiative and directed security agencies to intensify surveillance around schools, especially in border and rural communities.
Traditional rulers also expressed concern over the worsening insecurity.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, called for a total overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and stronger intelligence gathering, while the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, urged communities, vigilantes and traditional rulers to collaborate more closely with security agencies to secure the victims’ release.
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