“SUSPEND POLITICS, SAVE OUR CHILDREN” — TAYO AKINYEMI URGES FEDERAL AND OYO GOVERNMENTS TO INTENSIFY RESCUE OF ABDUCTED ESIELE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS 

A concerned citizen and community advocate, Tayo Akinyemi, has called on the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to immediately prioritize the rescue of the teachers and students abducted by bandits in Esiele Community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, while urging political actors to temporarily suspend non-essential political activities in the interest of public safety.

In a passionate appeal issued on June 5, 2026, Akinyemi lamented that it has been 21 days since armed bandits invaded Esiele, killing a Mathematics teacher and abducting several teachers and students who have remained in captivity ever since.

Describing the incident as a tragedy that affects not only Esiele but the entire Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole, he stressed that no child should be forced to spend weeks in captivity instead of learning in a classroom, and no teacher should lose their life for dedicating themselves to educating future generations.

Akinyemi noted that the people of Oyo State, particularly residents of Ibarapa, are all too familiar with the devastating effects of insecurity, recalling the painful experiences of kidnappings and killings in communities such as Igangan, Idere, and Igboora. According to him, past experiences have shown that delays in responding to security threats often come at a great human cost.

He therefore appealed to political leaders across all levels of government to place humanity above politics by suspending rallies, campaigns, and other non-essential political engagements for the next 30 days, while focusing national attention on the safe return of the abducted victims.

“Politics can wait, but a child in captivity cannot. Every available resource should be directed toward bringing these children and their teachers home safely,” he stated.

The community advocate also called on the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), and other security agencies to strengthen collaboration, share intelligence, and intensify rescue efforts. He further urged authorities to provide regular updates to reassure families and communities anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones.

Beyond the immediate rescue mission, Akinyemi emphasized the need for a long-term security strategy to safeguard communities across Yoruba land. He advocated increased security presence in forest corridors linking Old Oyo National Park, Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central, and neighboring border communities, alongside greater support for local vigilante groups through training, equipment, and modern surveillance technology.

He concluded by urging government authorities to rise to the occasion and ensure that the Esiele incident becomes a story of swift intervention and successful rescue rather than another painful chapter in Nigeria’s growing insecurity challenge.

“Our children deserve protection. Our teachers deserve safety. The time for urgent action is now,” he said.

Akinyemi also extended his thoughts and prayers to the abducted students, teachers, and their families, expressing hope for their safe and speedy return.