Ogbomoso, Oyo State — The Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Dr. Yunus Teliat Olushina Ayilara, has demanded that bandits responsible for the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area be executed upon capture, citing Islamic teachings as justification.…....
In a strongly worded statement that has gone viral on social media, the Chief Imam declared: “The bandits that kidnapped our children in Yawota and Esin-Ele in Oriire should be killed when caught. The government should not try to forgive them; they should be killed because that is what the Quran says.”
The remarks come amid widespread outrage following a violent raid on Friday, May 15, 2026, when armed bandits on motorcycles simultaneously attacked multiple schools in the communities of Yawota and Ahoro-Esin-Ele in Oriire LGA, part of the Ogbomoso zone in Oyo State, southwest Nigeria.
Reports indicate that the attackers targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community High School in Ahoro-Esin-Ele, and possibly a third nearby school. An estimated 32 to 46 individuals — including pupils, students, and at least seven teachers — were abducted. One mathematics teacher was killed during or after the incident, with his death confirmed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Local hunters and residents have described the attackers as heavily armed, with some accounts noting the use of abducted children as human shields during their escape into surrounding forests. Distress videos of victims pleading for rescue have circulated widely, intensifying public anger and prompting condemnations from traditional rulers, political leaders, and community groups.
In response to the crisis, the Soun of Ogbomoso and other traditional leaders convened emergency meetings, while parents in Ogbomoso and nearby areas have begun withdrawing children from schools out of fear. Security forces have been urged to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining captives.
The Chief Imam’s call for harsh retribution without forgiveness reflects deep frustration in the affected Muslim and broader Yoruba communities over the surge in banditry and kidnapping, which has increasingly plagued parts of southern Nigeria in recent years.
As of May 23, 2026, no confirmed releases of the hostages have been reported, though unverified rumors have circulated. Authorities continue to appeal for calm while pursuing the perpetrators.
