Oyo school abduction: Yoruba group blames S’West govs

The Egbe Omo Yoruba North America has sharply criticized the governors of Nigeria's South-West region for their perceived failure to confront escalating insecurity. This criticism follows the recent abduction of schoolchildren in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident the group says highlights significant security lapses in a region historically known for education, peace, and economic development.

On May 15, 2026, approximately 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities were abducted by bandits. In a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting, the organization expressed alarm at the "attitude and complacency" of the South-West governors, including the governor of Oyo State, who is constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property.

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We are alarmed at the attitude and complacency of the Southwest governors and the governor of Oyo State, who is expected by his constitutional duty to safeguard lives and property in the state.

The group emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated regional security framework to combat the rising tide of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes plaguing communities across the South-West. They urged the Oyo State government to deploy all available security resources for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted pupils. Furthermore, they called on all South-West governors to move beyond mere political statements and establish an effective security architecture capable of responding to emerging threats.

The communiqué also pointed out that the effectiveness of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, has been undermined by insufficient operational support and equipment. The organization argued that establishing Amotekun without adequate security gadgets is a superficial political gesture. They appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to hold elected officials accountable for security failures and criticized the Federal Government for insufficient attention to the region's security challenges, urging a prioritization of protection for lives and property.

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Establishment of Amotekun without enough security gadgets is akin to sacrificing our people for political mileage.