Armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, abducting pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Osun Wing, held a protest at the Osun State Government Secretariat in Osogbo to condemn the wave of school kidnappings across the country, with particular focus on the May 15 incident. During the protest, unconfirmed reports circulated that bandits had been sighted in nearby towns, prompting parents to rush to schools to pick up their children even while classes were ongoing. One woman on a bus was overheard instructing someone to collect her younger brother from school, saying the attackers were nearby. Passengers expressed despair, with one stating, "It is only God that can help us in this country," while another responded, "This is not a matter of God. It is our government that should help us and not let these people kill all our children finish." Another passenger asked, "What exactly is this country's government doing for us?" The attack in Oriire follows a broader pattern of violence affecting rural communities, including Ikerin-Opin in Kwara State, where two children were killed and a woman with her two grandchildren kidnapped during a vigil for a family event. Insecurity has forced schools to close, families to relocate, and communities to live in fear, particularly in areas far from media coverage and national attention. The Punch Newspaper reported the May 15 school attacks, highlighting the growing reach of armed groups targeting educational institutions. Despite years of similar incidents, no comprehensive security response has been implemented to protect schools or guarantee the safety of students and teachers.
The government remains reactive, deploying statements only after schools are attacked and children taken, rather than stopping the attacks before they occur. When security fails in towns like Ikerin-Opin and Oriire, the state disappears, leaving families to mourn and fend for themselves. Ordinary Nigerians are expected to provide their own safety, education, and power, while the state collects taxes without delivering protection. The cost of this neglect is measured in dead children and silenced communities.
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