Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned the killing of one of the teachers abducted during the recent attack on schools in Oyo State, describing the incident as not only a security challenge but also “a failure of collective humanity.”
Bandits had invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting staff, students, and pupils of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
Reacting to the incident in a post on his X handle titled “A Nation Losing Its HUMANITY,” Obi lamented what he described as growing moral and social decay in the country.
“Some events shatter a society so deeply that words are no longer enough to express the shock; the brutal killing of a teacher and the horrific rape and murder of an elderly woman are among such tragedies,” he wrote.
“These are not isolated incidents but signs of deeper moral and social decay.
”How did we get here? How did we reach a point where teachers are hunted and killed, and the elderly custodians of memory and wisdom suffer such dehumanising violence?”
Obi further stated that the development reflected a dangerous level of public indifference to violence and insecurity.
“This is more than a security crisis; it is a failure of collective humanity. We have become desensitised, consuming tragedy briefly and moving on, allowing indifference to normalise the unacceptable,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor sympathised with the affected families and called for accountability as well as urgent systemic reforms to address insecurity and social breakdown.
“To the families affected, I share in your grief. But grief alone is not enough. We must demand accountability and urgent systemic change.
”If such atrocities no longer move us to action, then we risk losing our shared humanity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing of one of the abducted teachers and pledged that efforts would continue to secure the release of the remaining victims.
According to the governor, seven teachers and an unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted during the attack, while the slain victim was believed to be a Mathematics teacher.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers were abducted. Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, understood to be the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists.
Our prayers are with the family,” Makinde said.
The governor maintained that the state government would not surrender to intimidation by criminal elements.
“We will not give in to terror. We will do everything possible to ensure that our children and their teachers are returned safely,” he stated.
He added that the government remained open to lawful negotiations aimed at securing the release of the abducted victims.
“So, whatever it is they demand, we are ready to listen to them and address the ones we can address as a state government. But the children and their teachers must be released immediately,” he said.
Teachers in Ogbomoso also staged a peaceful protest over the abduction and killing, shutting down classroom activities while demanding improved security around schools and the immediate rescue of those still in captivity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also condemned the killing, describing it as barbaric, while assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government was working with Oyo State authorities to rescue all abducted victims.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said security agencies had intensified operations to track down the perpetrators and their collaborators.
“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and deployment of tactical and Intelligence Response Team personnel,” Tinubu stated.
He further reiterated calls for the establishment of state police, urging the National Assembly to accelerate legislative action on the proposal to strengthen security across underserved areas of the country.
