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“Terrorists Must Not Hold Sway In Yorubaland” — Afenifere Raises Alarm Over Oyo School Abductions
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The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed serious concern over the recent coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, warning that urgent action must be taken to stop terrorists and kidnappers from establishing a presence in the South-West.
The group said the attacks, which reportedly resulted in the abduction of pupils and school officials, had heightened fears about the spread of violent crimes across Yorubaland.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere disclosed that its leader, Reuben Fasoranti, was deeply disturbed by the incident, especially as it occurred during the same week he celebrated his 100th birthday.
According to Ajayi, Fasoranti was saddened by the attack and sympathised with the victims and their families while praying for the speedy recovery of those injured during the invasion.
The attack reportedly occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, when armed men stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The affected schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.
Reports from the affected communities indicated that no fewer than 45 pupils were abducted during the coordinated attack.
The incident has triggered fear and tension across Oyo State, with residents and parents demanding urgent intervention to rescue the victims and prevent similar attacks in other communities.
International media reports also described the Oyo incident as unusual for the South-West region, where large-scale school abductions have historically been less frequent compared to northern Nigeria.
Authorities confirmed that three suspects had already been arrested in connection with the attack, while security agencies continue efforts to determine the exact number of abducted children and secure their release.
The development came around the same period as another school abduction incident in Borno State, further intensifying concerns about the growing insecurity around schools nationwide.
According to reports by the Associated Press, more than 80 children were feared missing following attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno states.
Afenifere, however, criticised the response of South-West governors, arguing that recent actions by state governments did not reflect the seriousness of the growing security threat facing the region.
The group said recent kidnappings and attacks in the South-West and parts of Kwara State suggest that terrorists and criminal gangs are becoming increasingly emboldened.
Ajayi stated that the situation had reinforced fears that armed groups may be attempting to spread their activities deeper into southern Nigeria.
The organisation questioned the effectiveness of earlier security initiatives announced by governors in the region, including resolutions reached by South-West governors, CCTV projects reportedly installed in Ogun State, surveillance aircraft acquired by the Oyo State Government, and security measures introduced in Ondo State.
According to Afenifere, the constitutional responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property, insisting that governors in the South-West must demonstrate stronger commitment to safeguarding residents.
“In view of the fact that the primary duty of government is the security and welfare of the people, governments in the South-Western states of Nigeria must prove that they are alive to their constitutionally assigned responsibilities,” the statement partly read.
“Everything must be done to ensure that no area in the region experiences an attack by kidnappers and bandits anymore.”
The organisation called on the governors of Lagos State, Ogun, Oyo, Osun State, Ondo and Ekiti State to prioritise the safety of residents above all else.
Afenifere stressed that terrorists and kidnappers must not be allowed to operate freely in any part of Yorubaland.
“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 warned.
Despite its criticism, Afenifere commended the swift visit of Tunji Disu to Oyo State following the attack.
The organisation also welcomed the inauguration of the Police Violent Crime Response Unit, expressing hope that the initiative would help combat kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday said it was not currently involved in negotiations with the United States, despite a halt in recent fighting between the two sides.
“Mediators may convey messages from the American side to us regarding current developments in the region. But at present, we are not engaged in any negotiations with the United States,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press briefing.
“Claims that Iran has requested negotiations are fabrications that the other side circulates from time to time,” he added.
Hostilities resumed between Iran and the United States earlier this month after diplomatic efforts collapsed amid an impasse regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Fighting has nonetheless paused since early Saturday, following 13 days of exchanges of fire between the two sides.
Baqaei criticised the United States, saying its conduct in recent years has “resembled that of a mafia gang that adheres to no rules or laws”.
“So long as such behaviour by the United States continues, we cannot be hopeful about the emergence of a reasonable process,” he added.
Iran insists on retaining control over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, including the collection of service fees, while keeping Oman involved as a coastal state.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have turned back multiple vessels in recent days, including six earlier on Monday, that attempted to transit the strait outside the route designated by the Islamic republic.
On Monday, Baqaei reiterated that Washington had nothing to do with recent talks with Oman over the administration of the Strait of Hormuz.
“These talks have no connection with the United States. They are a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman, and they are continuing,” Baqaei said, adding that the waterway “remains closed”.
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of
a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza after suspected Bandits invaded his residence in Bunza Local Government Area.
Confirming the abduction, the State Police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said the judge was taken from his residence around midnight.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman said.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, had immediately deployed tactical and intelligence teams to track the abductors and rescue the judge.
“Our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest hideouts, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the police spokesperson said.
NATIONAL WAVES learnt that the gunmen stormed the judge’s home along Zogirma Road at about 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State.
The attackers fired sporadically into the air before whisking the judge away. No member of his household was kidnapped or molested during the operation. He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen invaded his residence and abducted him,” a source squealed
A family member who craved for anonymity said “Immediately the incident happened, we alerted the relevant authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,”
News
Confusion in Anambra as students feared trapped in private hostel near Oko Polytechnic collapses
A three-storey private hostel warehousing students of Federal Polytechnic Oko has collapsed in Amokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving a yet-to-be-identified number of occupants trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, reportedly caved in late Sunday night.
The collapse of the hostel located near Tonimas Filling Station in the Oko Polytechnic community sparked panic among residents and students as cries for help were reportedly heard from beneath the debris.
Emergency responders launched rescue operations, with personnel from the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other security and emergency agencies deployed to the scene.
Several injured victims have so far been rescued from the collapsed structure and taken to a hospital in Oko for medical treatment.
Search-and-rescue teams, however, continue efforts to reach other occupants believed to be trapped under the debris.
Authorities said the exact number of casualties and those trapped could not be immediately confirmed, as rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team swiftly secured the area and coordinated emergency response efforts to prevent further loss of life.
Ikenga urged residents to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information, and stay away from the scene to allow rescue workers unhindered access to carry out their operations.
He added that the police command would provide further updates as more verified information becomes available.
We don’t have current negotiations with US — Iran
Police Finally Confirm Abduction Of Kebbi High Court Judge By Bandits
Confusion in Anambra as students feared trapped in private hostel near Oko Polytechnic collapses
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