GOMEP Demands Urgent Rescue of Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers

The Guide of Online Media Editors and Publishers (GOMEP) strongly condemns the abduction of over 40 pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as the gruesome killing and reported beheading of one of the teachers by the kidnappers.
This barbaric act is not only an attack on innocent Nigerians but also a direct assault on education, humanity, and the collective conscience of the nation. It is heartbreaking that children who should be safely in classrooms pursuing their education are now trapped in fear and uncertainty in the hands of criminals.
GOMEP expresses deep concern over the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly the increasing attacks on schools and rural communities. The latest incident in Oyo State once again exposes the alarming security lapses that continue to endanger the lives of citizens.
We strongly condemn the brutal murder of the teacher whose life was cut short in such a cruel and inhuman manner. Such acts of evil have no place in any civilized society and must never be allowed to become the norm in Nigeria.
The government at all levels, alongside security agencies and relevant authorities, must move beyond routine condemnations and take swift, decisive action. Nigerians are exhausted by the recurring incidents of abductions, killings, and bloodshed without concrete and lasting solutions.
GOMEP therefore calls on the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and all relevant security agencies to ensure the immediate, safe, and unconditional rescue of all abducted pupils, students, and teachers still in captivity.
The lives of these innocent children and educators must not be subjected to politics, negotiations, or unnecessary delays. Every available security and intelligence resource should be urgently deployed to secure their release and bring the perpetrators to justice.
We also urge the authorities to strengthen security around schools, particularly in rural communities, to prevent further attacks on educational institutions. Schools must remain safe spaces for learning and development, not targets for terrorists and criminal gangs.
GOMEP further calls on community leaders, traditional rulers, religious bodies, civil society organizations, and citizens to support efforts aimed at combating insecurity and protecting vulnerable communities across the country.
Nigeria cannot continue to lose innocent lives while criminals operate freely. The protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, and this duty must be carried out with urgency, seriousness, and accountability.
Signed:
Tochukwu Eluwa
National Publicity Secretary
Guide of Online Media Editors and Publishers (GOMEP)
20 May 2026