Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly condemned the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a barbaric attack on innocent children, education, and the future of Nigeria.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation expressed shock over the development, which reportedly also claimed the lives of some teachers during and after the attack, and called for the immediate rescue of all those still in captivity.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, Ohanaeze said the incident underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to protect schools and vulnerable communities across the country.
Commenting on the abduction, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, described the attack as a direct assault on the nation’s future and urged security agencies to treat the rescue operation as a matter of national importance.
“The sanctity of human life is sacred and must never be subjected to the cruelty of criminals. The abduction of children from their schools is an attack on the hopes of families and the future of our nation,” Mbata said.
He warned that no nation can attain meaningful development when its educational institutions are under threat and children are forced to learn in fear.
“No society can make meaningful progress when its children live in fear and its schools become targets of violence. The immediate rescue of these innocent children and their teachers must be treated as a national priority,” he added.
Ohanaeze expressed solidarity with the affected families as well as the government and people of Oyo State, assuring them of its support during what it described as a difficult and painful period.
The organisation called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the victims and ensure that those responsible for the attack are apprehended and prosecuted.
“The protection of our children and educational institutions must remain a matter of urgent national concern,” the statement said.
Ohanaeze maintained that attacks on schools pose a serious threat to national development and urged authorities at all levels to strengthen security around educational facilities to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
