The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) has condemned the abduction of 46 persons, including schoolchildren and a two-year-old toddler, from communities within Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The Convention gave the reaction in a statement issued Friday by Rev. Ebenezer Durodola on behalf of the NBC president, Rev. Dr Israel Adelani Akanji.
It said the victims comprised seven teachers and 39 pupils abducted from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School during coordinated attacks on the communities.
Among those abducted, according to the Convention, was a two-year-old girl identified as Christianah Akanbi of Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. The attackers were also said to have carted away four motorcycles belonging to residents during the invasion.
The Convention expressed deep concern over the condition of the abducted children, especially the toddler, who it said were being held in harsh conditions without shelter. “We are particularly grieved by the condition of the children and the toddler who are being innocently held captive in the bush and exposed daily to rainfall and harsh weather without any shelter or cover,” Akanji said.
He added that some teachers reportedly lost their lives during the attack, while those abducted were enduring “harrowing experiences and untold hardship that no human being should have to endure.”
The NBC president said the latest abduction highlighted what he described as a disturbing pattern of attacks on churches, schools and communities across the country. “The Nigerian Baptist Convention has faced a series of attacks on our schools and churches across Nigeria, with families and institutions being forced to pay huge ransoms,” he said.
Akanji recalled the abduction of students from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State in 2021, noting that despite repeated appeals for decisive action against insecurity, the situation had continued to deteriorate. “Nigerians, particularly the Church, are running out of patience and cannot continue to watch while lives and properties are being daily wasted,” he stated.
The Convention called on federal and state governments to adopt stronger and more coordinated security measures to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country. “This crisis requires coordinated and decisive action beyond mere statements.
Security agencies handling these issues must adopt a more robust, focused, modern and hard attack strategy to eliminate these evil elements from our society,” Akanji said.
He also urged traditional rulers, community leaders and civil society groups to support security efforts at the grassroots level, stressing that “local ownership of security is critical at this time.”
The Convention further renewed its call for the establishment of state police, arguing that decentralised policing would strengthen local security responses and improve intelligence gathering.
According to Akanji, state police formations should be “adequately equipped and allowed to carry sophisticated weapons superior to those of the bandits” while working alongside local security groups. The cleric also appealed to the Federal Government to seek international assistance where necessary to curb the infiltration of criminal elements into the country.
Lamenting the growing wave of violence targeting innocent citizens, especially children, Akanji said the development posed a moral and spiritual threat to the nation. “The dimension of torturing innocent children in Nigeria is tantamount to insulting God who has a high regard for children,” he said.
The Convention commiserated with families who lost loved ones in the attack and assured the government of its cooperation in efforts aimed at securing the safe release of those abducted. “We call on all Baptists and Nigerians of goodwill to intensify prayers for the quick and safe release of all captives and for lasting peace in our nation,” Akanji added.
