ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called for the immediate rescue of pupils, students and teachers abducted by armed criminals in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The demand was made on Sunday in a statement issued in Enugu by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, who expressed deep concern over the incident and its implications for the safety of children and the nation’s education sector.
Chukwu noted that reports of the killing of some teachers during and after the attack had further heightened the seriousness of the situation.
According to the statement, Ohanaeze received with shock and concern news of the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in the Oriire Council Area by armed criminals.
Condemning the incident, the President-General of Ohanaeze Worldwide, Azuta Mbata, described the abduction as a barbaric and inhuman act that constitutes a direct attack on innocent children, education and the future of the country.
“The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation unequivocally condemns this barbaric and inhuman act, which represents a direct assault on innocent children, education, and the collective future of our nation,” Mbata said.
He stressed that the sanctity of human life must never be subjected to the cruelty of criminal elements, adding that the abduction of children from schools undermines the hopes of families and threatens national development.
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“The abduction of children from their schools is an attack on the hopes of families and the future of our nation. No society can make meaningful progress when its children live in fear and its schools become targets of violence,” he stated.
Mbata insisted that the safe rescue of the victims should be treated as a matter of urgent national importance.
“The immediate rescue of these innocent children and their teachers must be treated as a national priority,” he added.
Ohanaeze also expressed solidarity with the affected families as well as the government and people of Oyo State, assuring them of its support during the difficult period.
The organisation called on the Federal Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities to intensify efforts aimed at securing the safe release of all those abducted and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.
“We call on the Federal Government, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to intensify efforts to ensure the immediate and safe release of all the victims and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” the statement read.
Reiterating the need to safeguard educational institutions, Mbata stressed that the protection of children and schools must remain an urgent national concern.
“The protection of our children and educational institutions must remain a matter of urgent national concern,” he said.
The call comes amid ongoing rescue efforts by security agencies following the abduction, which has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over the safety of schools across the country.