Insecurity: Outrage trails Oyo schools’ abductions

Afenifere, Olubadan, APM decry attacks, call for action, Oyo Govt vows rescue

.Senate condemns students’ abduction in Borno, Oyo, promises state police

.We’re analysing viral video of abducted pupils, principal in Oyo – Police

Eneka Agu Jnr

Condemnations on Sunday trailed the coordinated attacks on three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday.

Recall that gunmen on Friday invaded Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A Primary School, Ahoro Esinele, where some pupils, students, teachers and a Vice Principal, Mrs. Alamu Folawe were abducted.

An Assistant Headmaster identified as Mr Adesiyan and one commercial motorcyle rider, who reportedly resisted attempts by the attackers to forcefully take his motorcycle, were killed in the attack.

The Police in Oyo State on Sunday also said the command has begun analysing the video of the abducted students and principal of a Community School in Orire Local Government Area currently circulating online.

However, a video of the vice principal released online by the kidnappers surfaced online on Sunday calling on the Federal Government and Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to come to their aid.

Reacting to the video, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said the footage was presently undergoing comprehensive forensic examination.

Olayinka said the examination would help to determine its authenticity and aid ongoing investigations, rescue operations, identification and arrest of the abductors.

He assured the residents of the state of the Command’s unwavering commitment towards ensuring the safe return of all abducted persons to their families.

“To this end, intensive operational, intelligence-driven, and tactical efforts in collaboration with other security agencies are ongoing to secure the victims unharmed and bring all those responsible to justice,” Olayinka said.

The command’s spokesman urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies by providing credible and timely information that would assist ongoing operations and investigations.

Following the coordinated attacks on three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday expressed dismay and is calling for immediate action from state governments in the South-West.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said its leader, Reuben Fasoranti, “was saddened to hear of this unfortunate incident which occurred the same week he marked his 100th year on earth”.

The elder statesman sympathised with the victims and their families, just as he prayed for the quick recovery of those who were injured.

While recounting recent attacks and abductions in the South-West region and parts of Kwara State, the group said these incidents “reinforced growing fears that the terrorists appeared determined to overrun the South-West and, ultimately, the entire south.”

Ajayi submitted that the actions of South-West governors in recent times “do not suggest that they appreciate the enormity of the responsibility they shoulder concerning the security of their land”.

Afenifere wondered what had become of the resolutions by the six governors, the CCTV infrastructure erected by the Ogun State governor, the surveillance aircraft purchased by the Oyo State government, and related security steps announced by the Ondo State government at various times.

“In view of the fact that the primary duty of government is the security and welfare of the people, governments in the South-Western states of Nigeria must prove that they are alive to their constitutionally assigned responsibilities,” the statement read in part.

“Everything must be done to ensure that no area in the region experiences an attack by kidnappers and bandits anymore.”

The organisation called on the six governors in the region to make the security of their people their topmost priority.

 “Every necessary step must be taken to ensure that terrorists do not have a place, not to talk of a foothold, in Yorubaland – from Lagos up to Kogi, including Edo and Delta states,” Afenifere said.

However, the group commended the swift visit of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to the scene of the incident after Friday’s kidnapping as well as the inauguration of the Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU). Afenifere expressed optimism that the initiatives would lead to the prevention of crimes, including banditry.

The socio-political organisation restated that while the Federal Government has the onerous duty of ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians, governors have a sacred responsibility to use the resources at their disposal to secure their people and guarantee their welfare.

Meanwhile, leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, on Sunday, condemned the abduction of 87 students and teachers in Borno and Oyo states within 24 hours.

Bamidele, also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, added that the recent abduction accentuated the need to expedite the establishment of state police currently under consideration at the National Assembly.

He made the remarks in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday, calling for concerted and strategic measures to make schools safe nationwide and tame the rising number of out-of-school children in crisis.

Bamidele condemned the abduction, describing it as an attack on the future of Nigeria, thereby promising to speed up the creation of state police to complement the country’s current national security architecture.

According to him, the 10th National Assembly is currently at the phase of concluding the process of amending the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police. Indeed, the process will soon be completed at the National Assembly.

Bamidele, however, explained that after the National Assembly had concluded its part, the proposal would be transmitted “to the State Houses of Assembly for consideration and scrutiny, which would require a two-thirds approval before the state police could come on stream.”

He, specifically, appealed to the subnational governments and legislatures to see the state police proposal as an issue of strategic national importance that should not be subjected to partisan politics or ethno-religious consideration.

Before the state police became effective, the leader of the senate challenged both federal and state governments to embrace and implement the safe school initiative as a stopgap measure to address the number of out-of-school children, currently standing at 18.3 million across the federation.

He said the incessant abduction of students and teachers “is a tragic national concern that negates our national development indices. We cannot and must not allow it to continue. At the National Assembly, we will rise against this trend and put an end to it through the instrumentality of legislation.

“As soon as the National Assembly resumes plenaries on June 2, we will perfect all outstanding legislative initiatives that have been introduced to decisively address security challenges in the federation.

“One of such initiatives is the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution that seeks to establish state police, which is now at an advanced stage. Another is the amendment of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 aimed at strengthening the system of consequence in the country’s justice sector and discouraging heinous crimes nationwide.”

In its reaction, Oyo State Government vowed to rescue the victims, as it assured families of its commitment to securing the safe release of those abducted.

The Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, stated this on Sunday when he led a government delegation on a condolence visit to communities in Oriire LGA.

In a statement on Sunday, made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed that the deputy governor, during the visit, disclosed that security forces, including the garrison commander, police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as local hunters, were still in the bush pursuing the attackers.

Lawal warned that the government would not tolerate banditry, reiterating that, “Oyo State is not giving an inch for banditry and criminality. The government is doing everything required to ensure adequate security so that citizens can live in peace.”

Lawal also said the figure of those abducted had not been established, describing what was circulating in the media as incorrect.

“Until we do proper verification, we cannot put a figure to those abducted. For now, figures circulating in the media cannot be taken as correct,” Lawal said.

The delegation visited Yawota and Esiele in Oriire South and equally met with families of the victims.

Speaking on steps already taken, Lawal said Governor Makinde had responded swiftly since the incident happened, adding that security agencies had engaged the suspected kidnappers in the bush, leading to the killing of about three of them.

“We have pacified the residents and given assurances that those abducted will be rescued and brought back,” Lawal told journalists after visiting victims at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Bowen University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso.

According to him, the attackers targeted Esiele and Yawota around Ahorodada, abducting pupils and staff from LA Basic School Ahoro Esiele, Community High School, and a private primary school.

Lawal said the state immediately deployed logistical and operational support to enable security agencies to respond and to ensure injured victims received treatment, adding, however, that the incident showed bandits were operating close to communities, particularly along the fringes of forest reserves.

He said the government would continue to strengthen security architecture in vulnerable areas, including Saki West, Saki East, Irepo, Iseyin, Ibarapa, Igbeti, and Oriire.

“We are asking residents to remain vigilant. If you notice any unusual movement, report it to security agencies so that prompt action can be taken,” Lawal said.

The deputy governor confirmed that one person and a teacher lost their lives in the attack.

He directed the chairmen of Oriire and Surulere local government areas to submit comprehensive reports by Monday morning.

The delegation included the Commissioner for Education, Segun Olayiwola; the Commissioner for Information, Oyelade; Chairman of the Oyo State Project Performance Monitoring Agency, Muftau Open Salawu, and Special Adviser on Security Matters, Sunday Odukoya, among others.

Also, the Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Sunday decried the kidnapping of primary and secondary school pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

The Olubadan, in a statement released by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the issue of security should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

He said, “It is high time that we all come together to address the issue of insecurity nationwide.

“The police and other security operatives must intensify their search for these students.

“Also, local vigilantes and traditional rulers must collaborate with security personnel to ensure that the kidnapped students are returned to their respective parents safely.”

Meanwhile, the Allied People’s Movement has condemned the abduction of schoolchildren and teaching staff in Oyo State, describing the attack as “outrageous and heartless.”

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Chairman, Yusuf  Dantalle, the party demanded the immediate release of the victims kidnapped during Friday’s attack.

“The APM strongly condemns the abduction of schoolchildren, the principal and the killing of the assistant headteacher by terrorists in Oyo State on Friday. It is outrageous, barbaric and cruel in the worst order.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with these children, teachers, families, government and people of Oyo State in this trying time.

“Our hearts also go out to the family of the assistant headteacher who was brutally killed, as well as the bike rider who was mowed down in this senseless attack.

“We urge security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue these children and the principal held by terrorists to enable them to reunite with their families, and ensure adequate security of lives and property across the state in this electoral season,” Dantalle said.

The party also commended Makinde for what it described as his “visionary, purposeful and transformative leadership,” urging him not to be discouraged by the attack.