The President General of respected Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Orashi National Congress, ONC, has condemned the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, calling for swift security measures to be implemented by Government at all levels.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Amb Ibe described the abduction of students and teachers from schools within the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso as very disturbing and unacceptable.
He stated, “While we appeal to the Government at all levels to provide adequate security protection for our schools, we plead with the armed gunmen who reportedly attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, to release them unharmed”.
“At the ONC, we mourn the loss of lives recorded during the incident, including that of Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan, a commercial motorcyclist and one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly killed in captivity.”
“It is very clear that attacks on schools and educational communities represent a direct assault on the future of the nation. We therefore, called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations to ensure the safe return of all victims still in captivity while bringing the perpetrators of the attack to book.”
“The Orashi National Congress charges governments at all levels to strengthen security architecture in vulnerable communities, particularly around schools and rural settlements, in order to prevent future occurrences. Our people should equally support security agencies with credible information, vigilance and community cooperation as the fight against kidnapping requires collective responsibility and national unity.”