NAF Deploys Surveillance Aircraft in Response to Oyo School Abduction.

…S-West CAN to FG: Declare state of emergency on insecurity
…Deploy ancestral powers to fight bandits, Ooni tasks monarchs
…Says attacks threatening national peace
…African Labour Union blasts FG over schoolchildren kidnap epidemic
…Police debunk Ogun forest bandit video

By Dayo Johnson, Kingsley Omonobi, Victor Ahiuma-Young, Shina Abubakar & James Ogunnaike

AKURE — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that it has continued to provide aerial surveillance support to ongoing efforts aimed at rescuing teachers and pupils abducted from Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The pupils and teachers of the Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School (Esiele), and L.A. Primary School were kidnapped on 15 May during a fatal attack by bandits. One of the teachers was also killed in captivity by the terrorists.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the representative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Suleh, on 5 June 2026.

In a statement by NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Makinde revealed that the NAF promptly deployed an aerial surveillance platform immediately after the abduction was reported, providing critical intelligence to support search‑and‑rescue operations.

The governor said intelligence generated from the surveillance missions had continued to assist security agencies in tracking developments and coordinating efforts towards securing the safe release of the victims.

NAF said Makinde appealed for patience and support from residents, assuring them that all necessary resources are being deployed to ensure the successful resolution of the situation.

The statement reads: “He commended the CAS and the NAF for their swift response and sustained support, noting that the Air Force made the surveillance platform available while Oyo State’s newly acquired aerial assets are still being assembled at the NAF Base, Lagos.”

“Makinde further explained that the state acquired the platforms following consultations with the NAF to ensure access to maintenance support, engineering expertise and pilot training.”

“He expressed confidence that the assets would significantly enhance security operations across Oyo State and neighbouring states once fully operational.”

Speaking on behalf of the CAS, Air Vice Marshal Suleh conveyed the solidarity of the NAF with the government and people of Oyo State and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting ongoing efforts to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.

He also commended the government for its continued support towards NAF projects and infrastructure development within the state.

“The NAF remains committed to working closely with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to safeguard lives and property while supporting efforts to address security challenges across the country,” it added.

S-West CAN to FG: Declare state of emergency on insecurity

As a way of tackling kidnappings, banditry, and violent crimes nationwide, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South‑West urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security.

Chairman of the association in the zone, Bishop Barnabas Akin‑Akinsanya, said abductions and attacks in Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos now threaten national peace, economic development, and social stability. He noted that kidnappings, once seen as isolated, have become a recurring challenge, fuelling fear among citizens.

The CAN boss further urged the Federal Government to equip security agencies with modern surveillance equipment, drones, advanced communication gadgets, intelligence systems, and rapid‑response capabilities.

He said: “The time has come for governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric and adopt extraordinary measures to confront this national emergency.”

“The security situation warrants an emergency declaration to coordinate an aggressive response against criminal networks.”

“Every legitimate avenue capable of restoring peace and security to our nation should be explored.”

Deploy ancestral powers to fight bandits, Ooni tasks monarchs, traditionalists

Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has tasked traditional rulers across Yorubaland to deploy ancestral traditional means to tackle the growing menace of bandits across the zone.

Oba Ogunwusi, while expressing concern over the spread of insecurity in the region, urged traditional rulers to collaborate with the government to restore peace and order in the region.

The monarch, in a statement by his spokesperson, Moses Olafare, said the monarch spoke at the grand finale of the 2026 Ifa festival.

He said: “We must bring together our traditional powers, spiritual heritage, and communal values to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Our ancestors stood for justice, peace, and communal harmony, and we must invoke those values at this critical time.”

“We must rise collectively against the menace of banditry and kidnapping. Enough is enough. Our people deserve to live in peace and move freely without fear. Traditional rulers must take greater responsibility in safeguarding their communities while supporting the efforts of the government and security agencies.”

“Traditional institutions, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and citizens must work together in support of ongoing efforts to secure our country.”

African Labour Union blasts FG over schoolchildren kidnap epidemic

Meanwhile, the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC‑Africa) has accused the Federal Government of failing in its primary responsibility to protect citizens as kidnappings of schoolchildren, teachers and workers continue to spread across the country.

The ITUC‑Africa, in a statement by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, warned that the growing wave of abductions poses a grave threat to education, economic productivity and national development.

The organisation said: “We commend the leadership of the NUT and the NLC for taking a principled stand in defence of teachers, students, and communities who continue to live and work under the threat of violence, kidnapping, and fear.”

“The repeated abduction of schoolchildren and teachers is more than a security challenge. It is a direct assault on the social contract between citizens and the state. A country that cannot protect its children is a danger to itself.”

“ITUC‑Africa is deeply concerned that mass abductions increasingly resemble a criminal industry. Schools and communities must never become hunting grounds for criminal networks. Governments at all levels must act decisively to dismantle these networks, rescue victims, strengthen security institutions, and restore public confidence.”

“The state must not allow conditions in which terrorist and criminal groups can normalise the kidnapping of children and workers as a profitable enterprise.”

“Workers cannot produce under fear. Teachers cannot teach under fear. Children cannot learn in fear. The Nigerian people deserve safety, dignity, and peace.”

Police debunk Ogun forest bandit video

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a viral video circulating on social media, which allegedly depicts armed bandits operating within a forest in the state.

The Command said investigations have confirmed that the footage neither originated from Ogun State nor anywhere in Nigeria, describing the claims accompanying the video as a deliberate attempt to spread panic and misinformation.

The Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed that preliminary findings and independent fact‑checks revealed that the footage was recorded in Kenya during an operation involving cattle rustlers and was captured by a General Service Unit (GSU) drone.

According to the police, the video, which shows a group of individuals cooking in a bush environment, was first uploaded online in 2022 before being recently recycled and falsely linked to Ogun State.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, condemned the circulation of unverified content capable of creating unnecessary fear among residents.

Ojajuni said: “The video currently being circulated on social media is false, misleading and has no connection whatsoever with Ogun State or any part of Nigeria. Our findings indicate that it is recycled footage from Kenya which has been deliberately re‑shared with a deceptive narrative.”

“The Command has no intelligence or operational report suggesting the presence of any such criminal group within the forests or any community in Ogun State. We urge members of the public to disregard the video and refrain from sharing unverified information capable of causing panic.”

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