Oyo Abduction: Afenifere Laments Infiltration of Yorubaland By Bandits
- Tasks Govs To Prevent Further Attack
A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday, lamented that “Yorubaland is now under siege,” following the attacks on three schools and abduction of pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement issued in Ibadan on Sunday, by National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Jare Ajayi, quoted the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, to have lamented the incident and sympathised with the victims and their families, praying for the quick recovery of those injured.
Afenifere leader declared that the latest attacks reinforced growing fears that the terrorists appeared determined to overrun the South-West and, ultimately, the entire South.
He expressed hope that a total stop would be put to the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country without further delay.
The statement read, “To list some incidents of terrorism in recent times to underscore his (Fasoranti’s) call for urgent action to stem the tide. Among the instances he cited were the confirmation by the Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday, May 12, of the abduction of three members of a family by suspected gunmen at Ipojo Golden Estate, Oke-Eri, in Ijebu Ode.
“On Wednesday last week, the Police and vigilante operatives disrupted an alleged ₦10 million ransom collection operation by a suspected kidnapping gang in Otefon Village Forest, Atiba Local Government Area, Oyo State.
“On April 18, heavily armed gunmen invaded a church during an open-air crusade in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers. Gunmen stormed Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on February 3 and 4, killed many and abducted more than 170 people.
“On May 2, gunmen invaded a Police Mobile Force camp in Tenebo, Kaiama LGA, killing three police officers. On the same day, a 60-year-old trader was kidnapped in the Jinarere area of Ibadan by four masked gunmen, just as one Alhaji Aleshinloye, a businessman, was kidnapped in Irawo, Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State last week. Earlier, a schoolgirl was kidnapped in the Challenge area of Ibadan, while a retired teacher was killed on his farm in Ago Area, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State.
“On November 18, 2025, Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, was attacked by terrorists during a Tuesday evening service, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others, including a pastor.
“Four passengers were abducted along the Igbeti–Kisi Road, though they were later rescued by police, Amotekun and Operation Burst. The list of terror acts keeps growing,” he lamented.
He added that what was happening now seemed to have been anticipated, going by actions taken by South-West governors under the leadership of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who established the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, on January 9, 2020.
“The initiative was designed to safeguard the six states of the region,” he added.
Afenifere commended the swift visit of the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to Oriire following Friday’s kidnap incident, and the inauguration of the Police’s Violence Crime Response Unit in Ibadan by Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday, May 16, 2026. It expressed hope that the initiatives would help prevent crimes, including banditry.
It, however, said, “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.”
The group recalled that governors of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Oyo met in Ibadan on Monday, November 24, 2025, in what was described as a Security Summit.
“The objective of the meeting was mainly on how to secure the South-West. In February, the Ogun State Government launched closed-circuit television hubs for security purposes, just as Ondo and Ekiti State governments also announced various steps to stem insecurity in their respective states.
“Earlier in the year, Oyo announced the purchase of two DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft at a cost of N7.7 billion. Announcing the purchase, Governor Makinde said the aircraft, when fully operational, would provide wide aerial coverage across Oyo and extend surveillance to vulnerable corridors linking Oyo and Kwara states, areas often exploited by criminal elements due to the porosity of the borders.
“Were the aircraft deployed, what happened last week would have been nipped in the bud because the planes were reported to be fitted with sophisticated surveillance technology capable of identifying targets from both high and low altitudes, which allow for real-time intelligence gathering, improving rapid response and precision security operations.”
Afenifere wondered what had become of the resolutions by the six governors, the CCTV installations in Ogun, the surveillance aircraft purchased by Oyo, and other security measures announced by Ondo at various times.
“In view of the fact that the primary duty of government is the security and welfare of the people, governments in South-West 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 attacks by kidnappers and bandits anymore. Yorubaland has been infiltrated,” the group said.
Afenifere called on the six governors in the region to make the security of their people their top 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,” the group said.
Recall that gunmen suspected to be terrorists on motorbikes attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, all in Oriire Local Government Area on Friday.
One member of staff was reportedly killed while a principal and scores of pupils were abducted.
After the incident, the state government shutdown schools in the affected areas.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Saturday visited some of the affected communities and expressed concern over the incident and extended condolences to families of victims who lost their lives during the attack.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
