Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi condemns the Oyo school attack and calls for urgent security action to rescue abducted victims

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has condemned the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, calling for urgent security action and stronger national collaboration against kidnapping and violent crimes across Nigeria.

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In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the monarch described the abduction of students and teachers from schools within the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota axis of Ogbomoso as heartbreaking, disturbing and unacceptable.

Ooni Ogunwusi, who is the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, said the invasion of educational communities by armed gunmen represented a dangerous threat to the country’s future.

According to the statement, the attackers reportedly invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, terrorising pupils, teachers and residents in the affected communities.

The monarch expressed deep sadness over the deaths recorded during the incident, including that of Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan, a commercial motorcyclist and one of the abducted teachers, Mr Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly killed while in captivity.

Describing the development as a painful tragedy, the Ooni said attacks on schools and learning environments amount to a direct assault on national development, stressing that children and educators should never become targets of criminal violence.

The traditional ruler called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations aimed at securing the safe return of victims still being held by abductors while ensuring that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.

Ooni Ogunwusi also urged federal, state and local governments to strengthen security architecture around vulnerable rural communities and schools in order to prevent future attacks.

The monarch further appealed to Nigerians to support security agencies through vigilance, credible intelligence and community cooperation, noting that the fight against kidnapping requires collective responsibility.

He equally sympathised with the families of security personnel, members of the Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes said to have lost their lives during rescue operations, describing their sacrifices as heroic and patriotic.

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While praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased, the Ooni asked God to comfort grieving families and grant freedom to victims who remain in captivity.