Yoruba Union Pressures Tinubu Over 176 Kwara Abductees, 40 Borno Schoolchildren

The Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has lauded the recent release of the Oriire schoolchildren and their instructors. However, the group has simultaneously called upon President Bola Tinubu to ensure the swift freedom of 176 women and children kidnapped from Woro in Kwara State's Kaiama Local Government Area, alongside 40 Mussa schoolchildren abducted in Borno State's Askira Uba Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Convener, Olusola Badero, the organization emphasized that the rescue of the Oriire victims should not be the culmination of government security efforts. They maintained that all Nigerians held captive deserve equal attention, irrespective of their ethnic background, religious beliefs, or geographic location. The union extended commendation to Nigerian security forces, local vigilantes, and the Federal Government for their role in the safe return of the Oriire students and their teachers.

Nonetheless, the group asserted that Nigerians would only be convinced of President Tinubu's administration's commitment to tackling insecurity once all abducted individuals across the nation are successfully reunited with their families. The statement highlighted the ongoing plight of the 176 women and children from Woro, Kwara State, and the 40 Mussa schoolchildren from Borno State, describing their continued captivity as a painful reminder of Nigeria's persistent security challenges.

The union expressed dismay that since February, when over 200 people were reportedly killed by Boko Haram in Kwara State and 176 individuals abducted, both the Kwara State and Federal Governments have largely remained silent and seemingly indifferent. They alleged that the situation has not garnered adequate national attention due to what they termed the 'docile' nature of Kwara's populace.

Furthermore, the organization pointed out that Saturday marked 57 days since the 40 Mussa schoolchildren were taken in Askira Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, lamenting that these children are still held by terrorists.

“We welcome the release of our children and their teachers and commend all efforts by the security agencies, the local vigilantes and the Nigerian government for bringing all the victims home alive,” the statement read. “Our prayers go to the Mathematics teacher who lost his life during the abduction by the terrorists. We also extend our condolences to the security operatives who paid the supreme price in the course of rescuing the children.”

“However, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá urges the Nigerian security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue other victims across the country. We are not a tribalistic organisation. Our concerns cut across all ethnic groups. Children are the apple of every parent's eye, and no parent prays to know the tragic end of their children. We all pray for them to succeed us. They should not be subjected to trauma and mental health challenges at their age simply because the government has failed to secure the lives and property of the citizens it swore to protect.”

“This is not the time to use the lives of innocent people to play politics. Rather, it is the time to call on the Nigerian government to intensify its efforts and adequately equip our security operatives to combat terrorists in their strongholds. The 176 Woro children and women, alongside the 40 Mussa schoolchildren, should be rescued just as the Oriire schoolchildren were rescued. Only then will Nigerians truly know that President Bola Tinubu is working seriously to improve security across the country.”

The group reiterated its stance that every kidnapped Nigerian is entitled to equal protection under the law, urging the Federal Government to exhibit the same urgency demonstrated in the Oriire rescue to secure the safe return of all individuals still held by terrorists and other criminal elements nationwide.