The Muslim Congress (TMC) has called for urgent and decisive action to secure the release of students and teachers abducted in Oyo State, warning that Nigeria’s escalating wave of kidnappings has reached a critical level that can no longer be treated as isolated incidents.
The group said the latest attack, which reportedly claimed one life while several victims remain in captivity, reflects a deepening security emergency affecting schools and communities across the country, with citizens increasingly living in fear and uncertainty.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Amir, President, Alhaji AbdulWasi’i Bangbala, TMC said the repeated cycle of abductions and killings has turned insecurity into a national reality that demands urgent structural and strategic response.
According to TMC, what was once considered rare has now become routine, noting that Nigerians are increasingly receiving news 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.
The group said the recent incident in Oyo State underscores the vulnerability of even educational institutions, warning that no region in the country can currently be described as safe.
It also raised 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 claims of ongoing rescue operations and deployment of security agencies, TMC expressed concern that these efforts have yet to yield the safe return of victims.
It urged authorities to ensure greater transparency in security operations and to guarantee that arrested suspects are properly investigated and prosecuted, stressing that public trust depends on visible results.
The organisation further renewed its call for the establishment of state police, arguing that Nigeria’s centralised security structure is overstretched and struggling to effectively respond to widespread and cross-border banditry.
It also called for the full activation and proper equipping of local security initiatives such as Forest Guards, particularly in vulnerable forest corridors where kidnappers are believed to operate.
TMC urged state governments to go beyond verbal assurances and implement concrete school security measures, including digital monitoring systems and a comprehensive security audit of schools located near forested areas.
The group also advocated the revival and adequate funding of the Safe Schools Initiative to restore confidence among parents, teachers and students.
Reiterating its appeal for urgency, TMC said government must maintain open communication with citizens on rescue efforts and security strategies, describing transparency as essential to public trust.
The Muslim body stressed that its intervention reflects the “deep distress of a nation pushed to the edge of despair,” adding that it will 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.
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