Oyo abductions: TMC demands rescue of victims, warns against rising insecurity

The Muslim Congress (TMC) has called for urgent and decisive action to secure the release of students and teachers abducted in Oyo State. 

It warned that Nigeria’s worsening wave of kidnappings has reached a critical point and can no longer be treated as isolated incidents.

The group said the latest attack reflects a deepening security crisis affecting schools and communities across the country, leaving citizens increasingly gripped by fear and uncertainty.

In a statement issued on Monday by its Amir and President, Alhaji AbdulWasi’i Bangbala, TMC said the recurring cycle of abductions and killings has turned insecurity into a national emergency requiring urgent structural and strategic intervention.

According to the organisation, what was once considered rare has become disturbingly routine, with Nigerians increasingly receiving reports of kidnappings and attacks with “grim expectation” rather than shock.

“For many Nigerians, the news of another abduction, another killing, another community thrown into mourning no longer comes as a shocking headline but as a grim expectation,” the statement read.

TMC said the recent incident in Oyo State underscores the vulnerability of educational institutions and highlights the reality that no part of the country can currently be considered truly safe.

The group also expressed concern over reports suggesting that the number of abducted persons may be higher than officially stated, including the reported abduction of a two-year-old child whose whereabouts remain unknown.

While acknowledging government assurances that rescue operations are ongoing and security agencies have been deployed, TMC noted with concern that these efforts have yet to secure the safe return of the victims.

It urged authorities to ensure greater transparency in security operations and to guarantee that arrested suspects are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, stressing that public confidence depends on visible and measurable results.

The organisation renewed its call for the establishment of state police, arguing that Nigeria’s centralised security structure is overstretched and increasingly unable to respond effectively to widespread and cross-border criminal activities.

It also called for the full activation and proper equipping of local security initiatives such as forest guards, particularly in vulnerable forest corridors believed to serve as operational bases for kidnappers.

TMC urged state governments to move beyond verbal assurances by implementing concrete security measures in schools, including digital surveillance systems and comprehensive security audits of institutions located near forested areas.

The group advocated the revitalisation and adequate funding of the Safe Schools Initiative to restore confidence among parents, teachers and students.

Reiterating its call for urgent action, TMC said government must maintain open communication with citizens regarding rescue efforts and broader security strategies, describing transparency as essential to rebuilding public trust.

The Muslim body said its intervention reflects the “deep distress of a nation pushed to the edge of despair,” adding that it would continue to advocate for the safe release of all abducted persons and stronger protection for schools and communities.

“The government must respond with decisive action rather than words alone so that this painful chapter can come to an end and peace can be restored,” the statement added.