The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has strongly condemned the recent kidnapping and killing of teachers and pupils in Oyo State, warning that worsening insecurity in Yorubaland can no longer be ignored.
The group described the attacks as “avoidable” and accused governors in the South-West and other Yoruba-speaking states of failing to act decisively despite repeated warnings about the growing threat posed by armed groups operating in the region.
In a statement issued by its President, Mr Wasiu Afolabi, the OPC expressed anger over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers as well as the reported killing and beheading of one of the victims.
“The kidnapping, killing and beheading of our defenceless Yoruba kinsmen in Yorubaland is not only condemnable, it is highly provocative; and it will not be tolerated,” Afolabi stated.
The organisation urged government authorities to support and equip local security groups, including the OPC, to confront terrorism and criminal activities threatening communities across the South-West.
“We hereby urge the government to permit and equip the OPC and other self-determination groups to confront the threat posed by terrorists in order to terminate the insecurity being imported into Yorubaland from the North,” he said.
According to Afolabi, the region has long been under threat, but political leaders allegedly ignored early warnings raised by community-based organisations and local security groups.
“Yorubaland is under attack. Long ago, we warned; we shouted. But our leaders continued to play politics and refused to act on the matter,” he added.
The OPC president lamented that many residents now live in fear, saying farmers, travellers and schoolchildren can no longer move freely because of insecurity.
“We will not tolerate a situation where our children cannot safely attend school, where our people cannot travel or where our farmers cannot farm because of some foreign elements,” he said.
Afolabi also criticised reported incidents where security personnel allegedly dispersed or confronted protesters demonstrating against the attacks, describing such actions as disturbing and suspicious.
The group expressed outrage over the reported killing of one of the abducted teachers, identified as Mr Michael Oyedokun.
“What offence did this defenceless teacher commit to deserve such a horrible fate of being beheaded? How can you report for duty in the morning, get kidnapped and wind up beheaded like a chicken?” the statement read.
The OPC warned that allowing armed groups to remain in forests across the region would only strengthen their operations and increase future attacks.
It therefore called on governors in Yoruba-speaking states to urgently convene meetings with vigilante groups, hunters and local security outfits to coordinate stronger responses against terrorism and banditry.
“Governors must immediately declare a state of emergency and get all hands on board to collaborate with the security forces to restore peace to our native land,” Afolabi said.
The organisation also renewed calls for the establishment of state police, urging both the executive and legislative arms of government to fast-track action on decentralised policing while providing support for local security initiatives in the interim.