The Yoruba Council of Elders has condemned the mass abduction of over 45 pupils, students, and teachers from three schools in Oyo State, calling for immediate federal intervention and regional security overhaul.
The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has condemned the coordinated abduction of more than 45 learners and staff from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, on Friday, 15th May 2026.
The affected institutions are Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yaworan; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L. A. Primary School.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, the YCE described the attack as “not just a crime against Oyo State, but an assault on the conscience of Nigeria, the future of the Southwest, and the sacred right of every child to learn in safety.”
The pan-Yoruba sociocultural organisation urged the Federal Government to “immediately deploy special forces, intelligence assets, and logistics support” to secure the unconditional release of all victims.
The Council also called on the governors of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos states to rise above partisan divisions and deploy strategic resources through interstate cooperation.
“Without gainsaying, Yorubaland cannot afford to become the next frontier of mass abduction,” Oyewole stated.
Describing the Oyo incident as a symptom of a deeper national security crisis, the YCE demanded urgent strengthening of community and regional security architecture across Yorubaland. It urged Southwest governments to equip the Amotekun Corps with necessary materials, enhanced training, better equipment, and legal backing for intelligence-led operations.
The Council further advised the six governors to recognise the statutory roles of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and the contributions of Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho) in promoting peace, and to engage them alongside indigenous security groups to broaden protection efforts.
The YCE called on the Oyo State Governor to establish a joint security task force for real-time intelligence sharing across the six states to prevent cross-border criminal movement. It also recommended deploying Armed School Protection Units in high-risk local government areas, particularly those bordering forest reserves.
“Our children all over Yorubaland are not to be used as collateral damage. Every day we delay decisive action, we may lose another child’s future and another parent’s peace of mind,” the statement added.
The Council expressed solidarity with the families of the abducted students and sympathy for the family of the mathematics teacher reportedly killed during the attack. It prayed for strength and fortitude for all those affected.
The abductions have renewed urgent calls for school security reforms and regional collaboration across the Southwest.