The National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America, known as Egbe Omo Yoruba of North America, has called for stronger, sustained security measures nationwide following the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, arguing the incident should serve as a wake up call for authorities to invest in prevention rather than relying solely on rescue operations.
In a statement from National President Ayodeji Famuyide and National General Secretary Rotimi Kuteyi, the group commended the federal government and security agencies for securing the students’ safe return while urging federal and state governments to institutionalise regular joint security exercises, improve intelligence sharing and build interoperable communication systems for faster, more coordinated emergency response. The association called for greater emphasis on community based intelligence gathering, protection of informants and ethical use of data to identify and neutralise threats before they materialise, alongside increased security presence around schools, child friendly safeguarding measures and rapid response drills to minimise disruption during emergencies, along with comprehensive national and regional contingency plans for child focused emergencies with clearly defined responsibilities across federal, state and local authorities. It urged deeper government engagement with communities, faith based organisations and cultural groups to improve situational awareness and rebuild public trust in security institutions, arguing that social investment, poverty alleviation, youth empowerment and expanded educational opportunity should all form part of a broader security strategy addressing the root causes of crime and insecurity. Schools must remain sanctuaries of learning and growth, the statement said, adding that transparent communication about security operations and their outcomes would help restore public trust and improve future effectiveness.
Despite its concerns, the group praised the Tinubu administration for what it called effective inter agency coordination that led to the students’ and teachers’ successful release, commending the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and other agencies involved in the operation, while paying tribute to personnel who lost their lives during the mission, including Lieutenant F.A. Isaac. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s development, pledging to continue advocating security policy, governance reform and empowerment initiatives that promote safety, justice and opportunity for all Nigerians.
