Oyo’s 56-Day Siege, Military As National Treasure and Osoba At 87

A recent 56-day banditry siege in Nigeria's Ogbomoso area of Oyo State has put President Bola Tinubu's administration under intense public scrutiny, eclipsing prevailing economic woes. The abductions and criminality, a two-decade-old issue, reached a fever pitch with the kidnapping of 39 pupils and seven teachers from Oriire Local Government Area.

The incident, which lasted from May 15 to July 10, 2026, caused widespread outrage, particularly in the politically sensitive western region of Nigeria. The author notes that any event affecting Oyo State is perceived as impacting the nation's soul. The public's reaction to the Ogbomoso kidnapping was so intense that it overshadowed even the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction in 2014 in terms of public outcry and social media harassment.

With the safe return of the abducted individuals, the nation's high socio-security temperature has subsided. The author observes a swift transition from parental grief and public sympathy to relief and celebration, with life seemingly returning to normal as if the avoidable tragedy had not occurred. The piece also briefly laments the less-than-dignified treatment of the Nigerian military regarding adequate remuneration for their service against internal and external threats. Finally, it acknowledges the 87th birthday of a prominent Nigerian journalism figure, described as a "living encyclopedia."

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The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.