Following the coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Sunday expressed dismay and charged state governments, saying, “Yorubaland is now under siege.”
The leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, disclosed this in a statement released by the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
He lamented that the incident occurred the same week he marked his 100th year on earth.
The PUNCH reports that terrorists on motorbikes attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, all in Oriire Local Government Area on Friday, May 15.
Fasoranti sympathised with the victims and their families, praying for the quick recovery of those injured.
He expressed hope that a total stop would be put to the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country without further delay.
The statement read, “Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened to hear this unfortunate incident which occurred the same week he marked his 100th year on earth.”
It added, “To list some incidents of terrorism in recent times to underscore his (Fasoranti’s) call for urgent action to stem the tide. Among the instances he cited were the confirmation by the Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday, May 12, of the abduction of three members of a family by suspected gunmen at Ipojo Golden Estate, Oke-Eri, in Ijebu Ode. On Wednesday last week, the Police and vigilante operatives disrupted an alleged ₦10 million ransom collection operation by a suspected kidnapping gang in Otefon Village Forest, Atiba Local Government Area, Oyo State.
“On April 18, heavily armed gunmen invaded a church during an open-air crusade in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers. Gunmen stormed Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on February 3 and 4, killed many and abducted more than 170 people.
“On May 2, gunmen invaded a Police Mobile Force camp in Tenebo, Kaiama LGA, killing three police officers. On the same day, a 60-year-old trader was kidnapped in the Jinarere area of Ibadan by four masked gunmen, just as one Alhaji Aleshinloye, a businessman, was kidnapped in Irawo, Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State last week. Earlier, a schoolgirl was kidnapped in the Challenge area of Ibadan, while a retired teacher was killed on his farm in Ago Area, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State.
“On November 18, 2025, Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti LGA of Kwara State, was attacked by terrorists during a Tuesday evening service, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others, including a pastor.
“Four passengers were abducted along the Igbeti–Kisi Road, though they were later rescued by police, Amotekun and Operation Burst. The list of terror acts keeps growing,” he lamented.
Afenifere declared that the latest attacks reinforced growing fears that the terrorists appeared determined to overrun the South-West and, ultimately, the entire South.
“The chilling reality thus detonated the earlier notion that the southwestern part of Nigeria was a safe haven considered relatively insulated from extremist violence that is prevalent in some other parts of the country.”
He added that what was happening now seemed to have been anticipated, going by actions taken by South-West governors under the leadership of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who established the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, on January 9, 2020.
“The initiative was designed to safeguard the six states of the region,” he added.
Afenifere commended the swift visit of the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to Oriire following Friday’s kidnap incident, and the inauguration of the Police’s Violence Crime Response Unit in Ibadan by Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday, May 16, 2026. It expressed hope that the initiatives would help prevent crimes, including banditry.
It, however, said, “The actions of South-West governors in recent times do not suggest that they appreciate the enormity of the responsibility they shoulder concerning the security of their land.”
The group recalled that governors of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Oyo met in Ibadan on Monday, November 24, 2025, in what was described as a Security Summit.
“The objective of the meeting was mainly on how to secure the South-West. In February, the Ogun State Government launched closed-circuit television hubs for security purposes, just as Ondo and Ekiti State governments also announced various steps to stem insecurity in their respective states.
“Earlier in the year, Oyo announced the purchase of two DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft at a cost of N7.7 billion. Announcing the purchase, Governor Makinde said the aircraft, when fully operational, would provide wide aerial coverage across Oyo and extend surveillance to vulnerable corridors linking Oyo and Kwara states, areas often exploited by criminal elements due to the porosity of the borders.
“Were the aircraft deployed, what happened last week would have been nipped in the bud because the planes were reported to be fitted with sophisticated surveillance technology capable of identifying targets from both high and low altitudes, which allow for real-time intelligence gathering, improving rapid response and precision security operations.”
Afenifere wondered what had become of the resolutions by the six governors, the CCTV installations in Ogun, the surveillance aircraft purchased by Oyo, and other security measures announced by Ondo at various times.
It recalled reports of bandits sending notices in English and Yoruba of planned attacks to some communities in Oriire LGA shortly after the killing of five forest guards at Oloka village in January this year.
“In view of the fact that the primary duty of government is the security and welfare of the people, governments in South-West states of Nigeria must prove that they are alive to their constitutionally assigned responsibilities. Everything must be done to ensure that no area in the region experiences attacks by kidnappers and bandits anymore. Yorubaland has been infiltrated.”
Afenifere called on the six governors in the region to make the security of their people their top priority.
“Every necessary step must be taken to ensure that terrorists do not have a place, not to talk of a foothold in Yorubaland — from Lagos up to Kogi, including Edo and Delta States,” the group said.
It added that while the Federal Government has the onerous duty of ensuring the security and welfare of Nigerians, governors have the responsibility of using resources at their disposal to secure their people and guarantee their welfare.
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