The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over last Friday’s coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, warning that the South-West must act urgently to prevent terrorists and kidnappers from gaining a foothold in the region.
The group said the attack, which led to the abduction of pupils and school officials, had deepened fears over the spread of violent crimes in Yorubaland.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, was deeply disturbed by the incident, especially as it happened in the same week he marked his 100th birthday.
Ajayi said 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, while also praying for the quick recovery of those who sustained injuries during the attack.
PrimeTimes Nigeria recalls that the attack occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Oriire LGA, where armed men reportedly invaded three schools.
The affected schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School. No fewer than 45 pupils were reported abducted during the attack, according to reports from the affected communities.
The incident has caused tension in Oyo State, with residents and parents calling for urgent action to rescue the victims and prevent similar attacks in other communities.
International reports also described the Oyo incident as unusual for the South-West, noting that school abductions in Nigeria have more frequently occurred in the northern region. Police also said three suspects had been detained in connection with the attack, while authorities were still trying to determine the full number of abducted children.
The attack came around the same period as another school abduction in Borno State, raising fresh concerns about the safety of schools across the country.
The Associated Press reported that more than 80 children were missing following attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno states.
Afenifere Faults South-West Governors
Afenifere said recent attacks and abductions in the South-West and parts of Kwara State showed that terrorists and kidnappers were becoming more daring.
The group said the incidents “reinforced growing fears that the terrorists appeared determined to overrun the South-West and, ultimately, the entire south.”
Ajayi criticised the response of South-West governors, saying their recent actions did not show sufficient urgency in addressing the security threat facing the region.
He said the actions of the governors “do not suggest that they appreciate the enormity of the responsibility they shoulder concerning the security of their land.”
The group questioned what had become of earlier security measures announced by some states in the region, including resolutions by the six South-West governors, the CCTV infrastructure reportedly erected in Ogun State, surveillance aircraft purchased by the Oyo State Government, and security measures announced by the Ondo State Government.
Afenifere said the primary duty of government remained the security and welfare of the people, adding that governors in the South-West must show stronger commitment to protecting lives and property.
The statement read in part, “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.
“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 governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states to place the security of residents above every other consideration.
It added that terrorists and kidnappers must not be allowed to operate freely in any part of Yorubaland.
“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.
Despite its criticism of the regional security response, Afenifere commended the swift visit of the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to Oyo State after the attack.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the Inspector-General of Police visited communities in Oriire LGA on Saturday following the deadly attack and abduction incident, where he expressed concern and condoled with the families of those affected.
Afenifere also welcomed the inauguration of the Police’s Violent Crime Response Unit, expressing hope that the initiative would help prevent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry and other violent attacks.
The group said while the Federal Government has the responsibility to protect Nigerians, governors also have a sacred duty to use the resources available to them to secure their people.
It maintained that the rising insecurity in the South-West required urgent, coordinated and practical measures, not mere statements after attacks had occurred.
Afenifere added that governments at all levels must move beyond promises and ensure that schools, rural communities and highways are protected from kidnappers and armed gangs.