The umbrella organisation of Christian denominations in Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned the abduction of schoolchildren, teachers and school officials during coordinated attacks on schools in the Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
It described the incident as a “national disgrace” and a dangerous spread of organised criminal violence into the South-West.
The Christian body expressed outrage that heavily armed attackers stormed multiple schools, terrorised communities, killed innocent people and abducted dozens of pupils and teachers.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said the invasion of schools by armed criminals in broad daylight reflected a frightening collapse of security across the country.
The association added that it was “intolerable, disgraceful and utterly unacceptable that Nigerian children can no longer sit safely in classrooms without the fear of being kidnapped by armed gangs.”
It added that, “The invasion of schools by armed criminals in broad daylight, the murder of innocent citizens, and the forceful abduction of defenceless children represent a horrifying collapse of security and a direct assault on the conscience of our nation.
“This is not merely another security incident. It is a national disgrace and a frightening reminder that organised criminal violence is spreading into parts of the country once considered relatively secure,” the statement said.
CAN also mourned the reported killing of an assistant headmaster who reportedly tried to protect the children during the attack, alongside other victims caught in the violence.
“Their sacrifice must never be forgotten, and those responsible must be identified, apprehended and prosecuted without hesitation,” the association stated.
The group further lamented what it described as growing public frustration over repeated attacks and insecurity in parts of the country.
“Nigerians are exhausted by condolences without consequences and promises without protection. The continued failure to decisively dismantle kidnapping networks and armed criminal groups is steadily normalising terror across the country,” CAN said.
The association warned that insecurity, once concentrated in parts of northern Nigeria, was now “spreading dangerously into the South-West and other regions, threatening national stability, public confidence and the safety of future generations.”
CAN called on the Federal Government, security agencies and the Oyo State Government to take immediate and coordinated action to rescue the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Every available security and intelligence resource must be deployed to secure the unconditional release of the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice,” the statement added.
The association stressed that schools and children must not be surrendered to criminal groups, urging authorities to strengthen security around rural communities, forest corridors and suspected criminal hideouts.
“When children are hunted in their classrooms, silence becomes complicity and delay becomes dangerous. Nigeria must act decisively to defeat these criminal networks before more innocent lives are destroyed,” CAN warned.
The association also expressed solidarity with affected families, churches and residents of Oriire Local Government Area, while praying for the safe return of all abducted victims.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
