- Alaafin urges FG to strengthen intelligence mechanisms
The apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday urged Governors in the South-West to rise to the worsening security challenges confronting the region, even as it strongly condemned Friday’s coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State.
However, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, called on the Federal Government to adopt a more holistic approach to intelligence gathering and strengthen native intelligence mechanisms as part of efforts to tackle the growing insecurity in the country.
Human rights group, Amnesty International, expressed deep concern over the recent abduction of dozens of schoolchildren by armed groups in parts of Northern and South-West Nigeria, urging authorities to take urgent steps to rescue the victims and secure schools across the country.
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has condemned the abduction of 87 students and teachers in Borno and Oyo within 24 hours, despite $30 million raised in 2014 to secure public and private schools across Nigeria.
Afenifere, while expressing deep concern over the attacks, sympathised with the families of victims and those injured during the invasion and abduction.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere noted reports that terrorists on motorbikes attacked the Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle; and L.A. Primary School, all in Oriire Local Council of Oyo, on Friday, May 15.
According to the statement: “Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened to hear of this unfortunate incident which occurred in the same week he marked his 100th birthday. He sympathised with the victims and their families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He also expressed hope that the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country would be decisively addressed without further delay.”
The communities attacked by terrorists include Ahoro-Esinle, Alawusa, Yawota and Oniya villages.
The Alaafin also donated an unspecified amount of cash in support of the ongoing rescue operations.
Speaking through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Oyo Monarch urged the government to move away from reactive approaches to insecurity and instead invest in credible intelligence systems capable of identifying threats before they materialise.
He stressed the need to deploy modern technologies for identifying and tracking criminal suspects, while also strengthening collaboration with local communities to improve intelligence gathering.
IN a statement yesterday, Amnesty International described the abductions as “alarming”, noting that the attacks targeted schools, children and entire communities within days.
According to the international rights group, at least 82 schoolchildren were abducted between May 13 and 15, 2026, during separate attacks in Borno and Oyo.
It said 42 pupils were kidnapped on May 13 and 14 after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok local councils of Borno.
It added that another set of 40 pupils was reportedly abducted on May 15 after gunmen invaded communities in Oriire LocalCouncil of Oyo.
Meanwhile, Senator Bamidele, who is also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, added that the recent abduction underscored the need to expedite the establishment of state police, which are presently under consideration at the National Assembly.
In a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs yesterday, the Senate Leader called for concerted and strategic measures to make schools safe nationwide and to tame the rising number of out-of-school children.