Outrage Grows Over Delayed Rescue of 40 Abducted Oyo Students and Teachers

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and a coalition of prominent civil society organizations have strongly criticized the federal and Oyo State governments over the ongoing captivity of more than 40 schoolchildren and their teachers, who were abducted nearly a month ago.

The groups expressed their frustrations during a security town hall meeting in Ibadan titled *”Oyo at a Crossroads: Security, Safety and the Future.”* They argued that both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde have failed in their primary constitutional duty to protect citizens, noting that 26 days have passed since the mass abduction without any breakthrough.

The victims were seized on May 15, 2026, during brazen, coordinated morning raids on three separate schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State: Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele.

### Group Offers Local Security Assistance

Speaking on behalf of OPC leader Iba Gani Adams, the group’s communications director, Rauf Abiola, emphasized that the state government must utilize every resource at its disposal to resolve the crisis, including collaborating with local security structures.

“The 1999 Constitution specifically gives the responsibility of protecting lives and property to the government,” Abiola stated. “If the governor has an offer of assistance from groups like the OPC, he should embrace it. We have coordinators across all 33 local government areas in Oyo State, and we even have members assigned to secure schools.”

The slow pace of the rescue operation has heightened anxieties among residents and security analysts, who warn that the safety window for the captive children is narrowing.

Insecurity Labeled a “Policy Failure”

Other civic leaders at the town hall argued that Nigeria’s broader kidnapping epidemic stems directly from systemic failures and economic decay. Femi Adeyeye, representing the Take It Back Movement, called the crisis a predictable byproduct of severe policy shortcomings.

He noted that widespread youth unemployment, a lack of social safety nets, and a collapsing educational system create a steady stream of recruits for bandit networks. Adeyeye added that kidnapping has effectively transformed into a highly organized, lucrative multi-billion naira enterprise involving suppliers, arms dealers, and professional negotiators.

Similarly, Bola Osodipo, regional president of the National Association of Seadogs, criticized authorities for over-politicizing security initiatives. He questioned why the government has actively discouraged alternative local defense plans such as public declarations by figures like Sunday Igboho to flush criminals out of regional forests while failing to provide an effective state-led alternative.