A human rights organisation, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd./Gte. (SOJA), has condemned the reported abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident and the alleged killing of a teacher as a grave escalation in attacks on educational institutions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, SOJA expressed concern over reports that armed attackers stormed schools in the area around May 15, 2026, abducting teachers and students. The group also cited the alleged killing of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, during the attack.
The organisation said several of the abducted victims remain in captivity, calling for urgent and coordinated efforts by security agencies to secure their release.
SOJA, led by its Founder and Executive Director, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, commiserated with affected families and communities, warning that repeated attacks on schools and civilians in parts of Nigeria are becoming increasingly alarming.
The group noted that the incident raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns under both domestic and international legal frameworks, referencing provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly those guaranteeing the rights to life, dignity, and personal liberty, as well as the state’s duty to ensure security and welfare.
It further cited Nigeria’s obligations under international and regional instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), stressing that these frameworks require proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations.
While acknowledging reports that security agencies have intensified rescue operations, SOJA maintained that recurring attacks on schools demand stronger preventive and intelligence-driven security responses.
The organisation called for the immediate intensification of lawful rescue operations, a full investigation into the incident, prosecution of perpetrators, improved protection for schools and surrounding communities, and comprehensive support for victims and their families.
“Teachers should not become targets. Schools should not become zones of fear. Children should not bear the burden of insecurity,” the statement added.
