• Alaafin urges FG to strengthen native intelligence, Ex-AIG deplores Homeland Security office
• Gov, Amnesty react to pupils’ abduction in Oyo, Borno
• Senate condemns abductions, promises state police soon

The apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, urged governors in the South-West to rise to the worsening security challenges confronting the region, even as it strongly condemned Friday’s coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State.

However, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, called on the Federal Government to adopt a more holistic approach to intelligence gathering and strengthen native intelligence mechanisms as part of efforts to tackle the growing insecurity in the country.

For retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ade Ajakaiye, Tinubu should focus on strengthening the police rather than creating a new Homeland Security Office.

Human rights group, Amnesty International, expressed deep concern over the recent abduction of dozens of schoolchildren by armed groups in parts of northern and southern Nigeria, urging authorities to take urgent steps to rescue the victims and secure schools across the country.

Relatedly, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, directed the immediate revitalisation of the Safe School Initiative following recent school kidnappings in neighbouring Oyo State.

Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has condemned the abduction of 87 students and teachers in Borno and Oyo within 24 hours, despite $30 million raised in 2014 to secure public and private schools across Nigeria.

Afenifere, while expressing deep concern over the attacks, sympathised with the families of victims and those injured during the invasion.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere noted reports that terrorists on motorbikes attacked the Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle; and L.A. Primary School, all in Oriire Local Council of Oyo, on Friday, May 15.

The statement reads: “Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened to hear of this unfortunate incident which occurred in the same week he marked his 100th birthday. He sympathised with the victims and their families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. He also expressed hope that the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country would be decisively addressed without further delay.”

THE Alaafin also donated cash in support of the ongoing rescue operations.

The communities attacked by terrorists include Ahoro-Esinle, Alawusa, Yawota and Oniya villages.

Speaking through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch urged the government to move away from reactive approaches to insecurity and instead invest in credible intelligence systems capable of identifying threats before they materialise.

He stressed the need to deploy modern technologies for identifying and tracking criminal suspects, while also strengthening collaboration with local communities to improve intelligence gathering.

FOLLOWING Tinubu’s approval of the appointment of Maj-Gen. Adeyinka Fadadewa (rtd), as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Ajakaiye said the establishment of the office was unnecessary, warning that it could further expand security bureaucracy without addressing the fundamental problems confronting existing institutions.

In a statement entitled ‘Creation of Homeland Security: Strengthening the Nigeria Police, Not Expanding Bureaucracy’, the retired police chief argued that Nigeria already had many security agencies responsible for maintaining internal security and intelligence gathering.

According to him, agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Armed Forces and other paramilitary bodies already perform critical security responsibilities.

He maintained that the country’s major challenge was not the absence of security agencies but the weakness of existing institutions.

IN a statement yesterday, Amnesty International described the abductions as “alarming”, noting that the attacks targeted schools, children and entire communities within days.

According to the international rights group, at least 82 schoolchildren were abducted between May 13 and 15, 2026, during separate attacks in Borno and Oyo.

It said 42 pupils were kidnapped on May 13 and 14 after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok local councils of Borno.

It added that another set of 40 pupils was reportedly abducted on May 15 after gunmen invaded communities in Oriire LocalCouncil of Oyo.

Adeleke’s directive was contained in a statement yesterday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

According to the statement, Adeleke ordered the Ministry of Education and other relevant government and security agencies to immediately strengthen the initiative as a precaution against a possible spillover of the attacks into Osun.

Meanwhile, the police are mourning 17 of their men who were killed in a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Council of Yobe State.

The officers, who were undergoing specialised operational training at the military institution, lost their lives during a coordinated attack launched by terrorists in the early hours of May 8, 2026.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Anthony Placid, said the attackers stormed the facility from multiple directions about 1.15a.m., leading to an intense confrontation with security personnel at the school.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, described the fallen officers as courageous and dedicated personnel who demonstrated exceptional patriotism and commitment to national security through their participation in advanced counter-terrorism and tactical training programmes.

BAMIDELE, also Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, added that the recent abduction underscored the need to expedite the establishment of state police, which are presently under consideration at the National Assembly.

In a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs yesterday, the Senate Leader called for concerted and strategic measures to make schools safe nationwide and to tame the rising number of out-of-school children.