The Yoruba Youth Assembly has strongly condemned the recent attack on a school in Oriire Local Government Area along the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State, where gunmen abducted pupils and teachers and killed a teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, while in captivity.
The group described the incident as barbaric, unacceptable, and a direct assault on education and innocent lives, expressing deep concern over the continued targeting of schools and rural communities in parts of the Southwest.
Speaking on behalf of the Yoruba Youth Assembly, the Worldwide President, Hon. Olarinde Thomas, called for urgent and coordinated action by security agencies to ensure the safe and immediate release of all remaining abducted pupils and teachers still in captivity. He stressed that every available intelligence and operational resource must be deployed without delay to prevent further loss of life.
The group also urged the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue efforts and prioritize the protection of lives, particularly in vulnerable rural communities where such attacks have become increasingly frequent.
The Yoruba Youth Assembly further called on Southwest governors—across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states—to urgently strengthen regional security collaboration in response to the rising wave of insecurity in the region. It emphasized the need for a unified security framework that enhances intelligence sharing and coordinated response mechanisms across state boundaries.
Traditional rulers, community leaders, and other key stakeholders were also urged to take active roles in grassroots security and intelligence gathering, with the group noting that community participation remains critical in addressing emerging security threats.
The Assembly referenced concerns earlier raised by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, who stated that out of 137 local government areas in the Southwest, nearly 40 have reportedly been infiltrated by criminal and terrorist elements. It described the development as alarming and a call for urgent regional coordination and decisive intervention.
While appealing for unity among political actors and stakeholders, the Yoruba Youth Assembly cautioned against politicizing the incident, stressing that the situation requires collective responsibility and immediate action rather than political division or blame.
The statement was signed by the Spokesman of the Yoruba Youth Assembly, Hon ‘Jide Alofe, who reiterated that the protection of schools, children, and rural communities must remain a national priority.
The group concluded by calling for sustained cooperation among government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations to ensure the safe return of all abducted victims and restore lasting peace across the Southwest.
Reported by:
Yoruba Youth Assembly
Worldwide President: Hon. Olarinde Thomas
Spokesman: Hon Jide Alofe
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