IBADAN, Nigeria (FN), The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned coordinated attacks on schools in Oyo State that left pupils, teachers, and officials abducted, warning that the spread of kidnappings into previously secure regions is a national disgrace.
Gunmen stormed schools in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area in broad daylight, killing residents and abducting children and teachers. Witnesses said an assistant headmaster was among those killed while trying to shield pupils during the assault.
CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh said the attacks highlight Nigeria’s failure to dismantle kidnapping networks and armed criminal groups. “When children are hunted in classrooms, silence becomes complicity and delay becomes dangerous,” he said, urging decisive action to defeat criminal gangs.
The association described the incident as more than a routine security breach, calling it a “national tragedy” that reflects the growing reach of organized violence into the South-West. Once concentrated in northern Nigeria, kidnappings have increasingly spread into other regions, threatening national stability and public confidence.
CAN criticized what it called “condolences without consequences and promises without protection,” noting that families are left vulnerable as attackers exploit rural communities and forest corridors. The group urged the federal and state governments to move beyond statements and deploy resources to secure the unconditional release of victims.
“No parent should ever have to watch helplessly as their child is dragged into the forest by gunmen. No teacher should have to choose between educating children and risking abduction or death,” the association said.
The group called for the full implementation of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, stressing that it must go beyond policy documents to provide real protection for students and teachers. CAN also expressed solidarity with affected families and communities, offering prayers for the safe return of abducted victims and comfort for those mourning the dead.
