The Archbishop of Ibadan Province (Anglican Communion), Dr Williams Aladekugbe, has strongly condemned the recent abduction of staff and pupils of some schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as other residents around Idi Ayunre, as ungodly, immoral and criminal. Bishop Aladekugbe while supporting the Governor Seyi Makinde administration warnes political actors against using the tragedy for partisan or religious purposes.
The attack, which occurred in Oriire and around Idi Ayunre, resulted in the kidnapping of school pupils, staff, and local residents, alongside the murder of a mathematics teacher.
Cleric Details Oriire School Kidnapping
Bishop Aladekugbe, who also serves as the Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese, stated he received the news of the assault with profound shock.
In a statement signed on Wednesday, the bishop extended his sympathies to the victims’ families and called on all tiers of government to coordinate a swift rescue operation to address immediate Oyo State security challenges.
“The news of the abduction of the staff and pupils of some schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and some citizens around CRIN came to us as a rude shock. We join millions of well-meaning and patriotic citizens of Oyo State, and indeed the nation, in condemning this despicable act. It is barbaric to say the least.”
The Archbishop emphasised that the targeting of educational facilities and the loss of teaching staff could not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“The abduction of innocent teachers and pupils in their schools cannot be justified by any standard. We condemn in strong terms the killing of one of the teachers. It is ungodly, immoral and criminal,” he said.
Oyo State School Abduction: Call to Address Oyo State Security Challenges
The statement affirmed that the Anglican Church stands firmly with the state executive to resolve the ongoing crisis. Aladekugbe noted that institutional collaboration must take precedence over political friction during security emergencies.
“We sympathise with our amiable governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the government and the good people of Oyo State over this unfortunate incident. We urge all levels of government to collaborate in securing the quick release of these innocent children and their teachers.”
Bishop Aladekugbe issued a direct warning to external commentators attempting to exploit the Oriire school kidnapping for political leverage.
“We stand with Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State. We condemn entirely the politics people are bringing into the issue and all forms of religious coloration in the governance of the state. Politics should be played with the fear of God in mind, as we will all stand before the judgment seat of God to account for our deeds,” he added.
Institutional Support for Governor Seyi Makinde Administration
To prevent future security breaches, the bishop recommended that the government implement systematic profiling of foreign nationals residing within the state to identify individuals with questionable motives.
“As we stated in our presidential charge at the just-concluded synod, all foreigners in the state should be properly profiled, and anyone with dubious character or intention should either be returned to their states of origin or dealt with according to the laws of the land.”
Bishop Aladekugbe concluded by reminding political parties that security threats remain neutral to party lines, praising the governance record of the current leadership.
“We plead with governments at all levels to invest more in security because there is no substitute for human lives. We also call on politicians across party lines not to play dirty politics with this issue. Insecurity does not recognise political parties. The incident at hand is not the product of any political party. We can all attest to the fact that the government of Engr. Seyi Makinde has delivered seven years of impactful and people-oriented governance.
“Our heartfelt sympathy goes to those abducted and their families. Our prayer is that Almighty God will intervene in their situation, secure their freedom, and ensure peace and security in the state and the nation,” Aladekugbe said.
