Ohanaeze calls for swift liberation of abducted Oyo students and educators

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State by armed criminals, with Dr Ezechi Chukwu, National Publicity Secretary, making this demand in a statement on Sunday in Enugu.

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Dr Chukwu expressed that the killing of teachers during and after the attack has further intensified the severity of this incident, which involved the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oriire Council Area of Oyo State.

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide received the news of the abduction with profound shock and concern, prompting the organisation to unequivocally condemn this act as barbaric and inhuman, according to Dr Chukwu.

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The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Sen Azuta Mbata, emphasized that the sanctity of human life is sacred and must never be subjected to the cruelty of criminals, as he quoted the organisation's stance on the matter.

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Sen Mbata stated that the abduction of children from their schools is an attack on the hopes of families and the future of the nation, highlighting that no society can make meaningful progress when its children live in fear and its schools become targets of violence.

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He stressed that the immediate rescue of these innocent children and their teachers must be treated as a national priority, while also extending Ohanaeze's heartfelt solidarity to the affected families and the Government and people of Oyo State.

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide called on the Federal Government, security agencies, and all relevant authorities to intensify efforts to ensure the immediate and safe release of all the victims and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.

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According to Sen Mbata, the protection of children and educational institutions must remain a matter of urgent national concern, necessitating swift action to address this crisis.