Yorubaland Cannot Become the Next Target of Mass Abductions, Says YCE

By Dapo Akinrefon

After the abduction of pupils, students, and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yaworan, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and L. A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) issued a statement on Thursday urging South West governors, leaders, and stakeholders to prevent the region from becoming a new target for mass abductions.

Chief Oladipo Oyewole, Secretary General of the YCE, condemned the abduction and described it as “an assault on Nigeria and the future of the Southwest.” He warned that children across Yorubaland should not be treated as collateral damage.

The statement reads: “The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), a pan‑Yoruba sociocultural organisation, condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the coordinated abduction of over 45 pupils, students, and teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yaworan, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and L. A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, on Friday, 15th May, 2026.”

“This attack on innocent children and their teachers is not just a crime against Oyo State; it is an assault on the conscience of Nigeria, on the future of the Southwest, and on the sacred right of every child to learn in safety.”

“Schools must never become hunting grounds for kidnappers and bandits. In the face of this ugly occurrence, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately deploy special forces, intelligence assets, and logistical support to ensure the safe and unconditional release of all abducted victims.”

“The Governors of the Southwest States – Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos – should rise above partisan boundaries, deploy all available strategic resources, and foster inter‑state cooperation to secure lives and properties. Yorubaland cannot afford to become the next frontier of mass abduction.”

“The Oyo incident is a symptom of a deeper national crisis. We therefore call for the strengthening of community and regional security architecture across Yorubaland.”

“Government in the Southwest should immediately provide the necessary materials for the Amọtẹkun, give them more training, better equipment, and legal backing for intelligence‑led operations. It is essential at this crucial period for the six governors to recognize the statutory roles of the office of Aare Ona‑Kakanfo of Yorubaland, along with the contributions of Chief Adeniyi Adeyemo (Sunday Igbiho), in promoting peace.”

“The six Southwest Governors should engage these and other indigenous security groups, as well as well‑meaning persons and organisations, to expand their protective efforts across our territories.”

“We further call on the Governor of Oyo State to quickly establish a joint security task force for real‑time intelligence sharing across the six states to prevent cross‑border movement of criminals.”

“There should be the deployment of Armed School Protection Units in high‑risk Local Government Areas, especially those bordering forest spaces. Our children across Yorubaland must not be used as collateral damage. Every day we delay decisive action, we risk losing another child’s future and another parent’s peace of mind.”

“We stand with the families of the abducted students and sympathise with the family of the mathematics teacher who was brutally murdered by bandits. We pray that the Almighty God grants all directly concerned strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The post Yorubaland can’t afford to be next frontier of mass abduction – YCE appeared first on Vanguard News.