Human rights lawyer, Barrister Niyi Aborisade (BANA), has expressed concern over the abduction of a school principal, teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a disturbing development that highlights growing insecurity in the state.
Aborisade said the attack, which occurred in communities within the Ogbomoso axis, came as a rude shock, adding that his thoughts were with the affected families and victims.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the legal practitioner stressed that the security of lives and property remained a fundamental responsibility of government, insisting that schools must be adequately protected against criminal attacks.
“The news on the abduction of Oyo State school teacher and students at Oriire Local Government came to me as a rude shock and my heart goes to the family of the teacher and the students,” he said.
The governorship aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress ( ADC) in Oyo State lamented what he described as the rising wave of kidnapping across the state, noting that residents were becoming increasingly apprehensive over the security situation.
According to him, the Oyo State government needs to intensify efforts toward tackling insecurity and restoring public confidence.
“As it is today, the Oyo State government needs to do more in terms of the security of lives and property. The wave of kidnapping in Oyo State is on the rise and it appears Governor Seyi Makinde, as the chief security officer of the state, is not doing enough to arrest the situation,” Aborisade stated.
He warned that urgent measures must be taken to prevent further deterioration of security, stressing that the prevailing atmosphere of fear and uncertainty could undermine public safety and social stability.
“Things must change to allay the fears and pandemonium in Oyo State,” he added.
The attack on the schools in Oriire Local Government Area reportedly left an assistant headmaster dead, while several pupils, teachers and a school principal were abducted by armed men who invaded the communities on motorcycles.
