The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has strongly condemned the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the growing insecurity threatening education and the future of Nigerian children.
The revered monarch expressed deep concern over the attack on schools within the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Ogbomoso, where armed men reportedly invaded schools and abducted students and members of staff, throwing the affected communities into fear, grief and uncertainty.
In a statement issued through the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, the monarch described the incident as “heartbreaking, disturbing and unacceptable,” stressing that educational institutions should never become targets for criminal violence.
According to the statement, the Ooni said the continuous attacks on schools across the country represent a direct assault on Nigeria’s future and an attempt to destabilize learning environments that should ordinarily be safe for children and educators.
“Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has condemned the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, calling for swift security action and a united national effort against kidnapping and violent crimes across the country,” the statement partly read.
The monarch lamented the tragic loss of lives recorded during the incident, including the reported killing of Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan, a commercial motorcyclist, and one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who was allegedly murdered while in captivity.
Reacting to the development, the Ooni emphasized that children and teachers must never be subjected to terror or become victims of criminality while pursuing education and academic activities.
“Attacks on schools and educational communities represent a direct assault on the future of the country,” the monarch stated, adding that “children and teachers must never become victims of criminal activities.”
He therefore called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations and ensure the safe return of all victims still being held by the abductors, while also bringing the perpetrators to justice without delay.
The traditional ruler further urged governments at all levels to strengthen security around vulnerable rural communities and educational institutions, especially schools located in remote and border areas frequently exposed to security threats.
According to him, stronger collaboration among security agencies, local vigilante groups, traditional institutions and residents has become necessary to prevent further attacks on schools and innocent citizens.
The monarch also appealed to Nigerians to support security agencies with timely and credible information capable of helping security operatives track down criminal elements operating within communities and forest corridors.
He stressed that the fight against kidnapping and violent crimes requires collective responsibility and national unity, warning that insecurity in schools could worsen the already troubling educational challenges confronting the country.
The Ooni’s reaction comes amid growing national outrage over the Oyo school abduction, which has triggered concerns among parents, education stakeholders and human rights advocates regarding the safety of pupils and teachers in rural communities.
Many Nigerians have continued to demand stronger security measures around schools as fears mount over increasing attacks on educational institutions in different parts of the country.
The development has also renewed calls for the revitalization and proper implementation of safe school initiatives aimed at protecting students, teachers and educational infrastructure from violent attacks and criminal invasions.
