By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

The recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has once again exposed the frightening state of insecurity confronting Nigeria. Condemnations have continued to trail Friday’s bandits’ attack on three schools in the area, where an unspecified number of students and teachers were abducted, while two persons were reportedly killed.

The tragedy has left families devastated and communities gripped by fear, as another painful chapter is added to the growing list of violent attacks across the country.

The attack, which occurred on May 16, saw armed bandits storm the community and abduct staff, students, and pupils from three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.

A. Primary School. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers operated for hours without resistance, moving freely through the area while terrified residents watched helplessly. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of schools and the preparedness of security agencies to respond swiftly to emergencies.

Worst of all, one of the teachers kidnapped during the attack was reportedly beheaded by the terrorists, a horrifying development that has deepened public outrage. Such brutality underscores the dangerous evolution of criminal activities in Nigeria, where terrorists and bandits now operate with alarming boldness and cruelty. The gruesome killing has further strengthened calls for urgent and decisive action from government authorities at all levels.

This unfortunate incident of school attacks is happening yet again despite repeated assurances from security agencies that schools across the country are safe. Nigerians have continued to hear promises of improved intelligence gathering, stronger patrols, and enhanced protection for vulnerable communities, yet attacks persist with devastating consequences. The contradiction between official assurances and the reality on the ground has weakened public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.

Another disturbing trend is that insecurity is rapidly spreading into the South-West region, an area once considered relatively safer compared to other parts of the country. Reports of Lakurawa terrorists and other armed groups establishing footholds in parts of the region have heightened fears that criminal networks are expanding their operations unchecked. The Oyo school kidnapping has therefore become more than a local tragedy; it is a warning sign that no region in Nigeria can afford to feel immune from terrorism and banditry.

Every now and then, government officials continue to assure citizens that security agencies are on top of the situation, yet many innocent people are still being killed and abducted with little or no arrests made afterward. More troubling is the fact that these attacks reportedly lasted for over two hours without any intervention from security operatives. This glaring security failure leaves Nigerians asking difficult but necessary questions about the nation’s emergency response capabilities.

How could terrorists, moving in large numbers on motorbikes, invade communities, abduct many people, and still escape without being tracked, stopped, or pursued effectively? What then are the military aircraft and advanced security equipment acquired with public funds meant for if they cannot be quickly deployed during emergencies? These are questions that citizens deserve answers to, especially as insecurity continues to consume lives and livelihoods across the country.

The Oyo incident has once again strengthened arguments for the establishment of state police across Nigeria. It is now obvious and evidently clear that the country’s centralized security structure requires urgent decentralization, similar to what operates in many secure nations around the world. State policing, if properly regulated and managed, could improve intelligence gathering, rapid response, and community-based security operations, particularly in rural areas that are often neglected under the current system.

It is no longer enough for leaders to merely condemn these attacks without taking concrete and sustained actions to secure the nation. President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, must urgently engage all stakeholders in the security sector, including international partners where necessary, to ensure that these terrorists are decisively defeated.

Government must also ensure that budgeted funds meant for security agencies, especially for the purchase of military hardware and equipment, are fully released and properly utilized. Beyond military action, authorities must intensify efforts to prevent the recruitment of vulnerable youths into criminal and terrorist groups. Nigerians are tired of mourning innocent victims. These killings must stop.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi, a concerned Nigerian writes from Obosi Anambra state.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called on commanders and senior officers of the Nigerian Army to continuously adapt operational strategies to effectively tackle emerging and evolving security threats across the country.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of a-three-day Chief of Army Staff First Bi-Annual Conference 2026 in Abuja, Shaibu said Nigeria’s security environment had become increasingly complex, requiring proactive leadership, innovation, and enhanced operational capabilities.

He stressed that the Army must remain flexible in confronting terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality, noting that modern military operations could no longer depend solely on conventional approaches because adversaries had continued to evolve their tactics.

According to the COAS, the conference was designed to critically assess operational realities across various theatres of operation and develop practical responses to emerging threats.

He urged participants to evaluate existing strategies, identify operational gaps, and propose sustainable solutions to improve combat effectiveness.

Shaibu also highlighted the importance of synergy among security agencies, saying no single agency could independently address Nigeria’s security challenges without effective collaboration and intelligence sharing.

The Army Chief further disclosed that the transition of Army conferences from quarterly and annual schedules to a bi-annual format since 2025 had significantly improved the implementation of operational decisions and enhanced effectiveness in the field.

He explained that the new arrangement provided formations and units adequate time to implement directives from previous conferences while improving monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of military operations nationwide.

“As we are all aware, since 2025, the Chief of Army Staff Conference has become bi-annual, transitioning from the previous quarterly and annual schedule. This change was intended to ensure ample time for implementing decisions and directives from each conference, leading to greater effectiveness and impact in the field,” he said.

Shaibu noted that the Army had recorded operational gains in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East as well as anti-banditry operations in the North-West and North-Central regions due to improved planning, coordination, and regular operational reviews.

He maintained that continuous assessment of operations remained critical to sustaining operational momentum and improving troop readiness.

The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to professionalism, discipline, and strict adherence to rules of engagement, noting that improved professionalism among troops had strengthened civil-military relations and enhanced public confidence in the institution.

He also revealed that Army Headquarters had intensified troop training, logistics support, and deployment of operational resources to formations and units to sustain ongoing military operations.

Shaibu commended officers and soldiers for their sacrifices in various operational theatres and assured them of continued support from Army Headquarters.

He equally appreciated the Federal Government for sustained support in the areas of funding, procurement of equipment, and troop welfare.

In his welcome address, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi, said the Nigerian Army had recorded significant operational successes across several theatres under the leadership of the COAS.

Alabi described the conference as historic, noting that it was the first major event held at the newly constructed Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja.

He said the Army’s operational effectiveness, strengthened by discipline and adherence to rules of engagement, had improved civil-military relations and reinforced public confidence in the institution.

The senior officer added that Army Headquarters had continued to support formations and units through enhanced training and additional operational resources aimed at building a more professional, combat-ready, adaptable, and resilient force capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency environments.

He urged participants to critically review ongoing operations, identify lessons from operational setbacks, and develop realistic strategies to counter emerging security threats.

Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of chegues to the wounded soldiers and next of kin to families of the fallen heroes.

The conference featured operational briefings, strategic presentations, and discussions on evolving security threats and military responses, with attendance by senior military officers, commanders, heads of military establishments, representatives of sister security agencies, regimental sergeant majors, and members of the media.

From Attah Ede

Agatu youths under the auspices of Agatu Indigenous Youth Association (AIYA)l, have petitioned the Nigerian Military authorities, demanding for the immediate withdrawal of Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke from Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

In the petition which was dated May 3, 2026, addressed to Major General Moses Gara, Commander t of Operation Whirl Stroke(OPWS) in Makurdi, the Agatu youths accused the military, particularly the Agatu Unit Commandant of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major Musa Okposhi, of compromise, gross inefficiency, and loss of public trust.

The petition, which was signed by Comrade Ochokwunu Daniel Edor, Convener and Interim National President of AIYA, explained that the entire Agatu people no longer feel safe under the current military protection and feared that, they may be attacked and killed by the same forces meant to safeguard them.

They enumerated some of their grievances which they said includes; insubordination by the unit commander, lack of proactiveness in responding to security threats, unprofessional temperament, disregard for duty, absence of routine patrols, intimidation of community youths, apparent bias in responding to incidents, and failure to act on credible intelligence.

They cited specific incidents, such as the recent attack on Odugbeho community where actionable intelligence was provided, but no security presence was deployed, and the abandonment of Olegabulu community during an attack that claimed lives.

The Association further demanded the immediate withdrawal of Operation Whirl Stroke personnel from the entire Agatu LGA and their replacement with Mobile Police officers, recalling that residents felt more secure when Mobile Police were stationed in the area between 2013 and 2017.

They also insisted that any Mobile Police Commander deployed must understand the local language and security dynamics of the terrain to enhance their operations.

Parts of the petition read: “We, the Agatu Indigenous Youth Association (AIYA), acting as the voice of the Agatu people, hereby submit this petition demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Operation Whirl Stroke personnel currently stationed in Agatu Local Government Area. This demand is premised on our strong suspicion of compromise and gross inefficiency observed in the conduct of the military, particularly under the command of Major Musa Okposhi, the Agatu Unit Commander.

“Our people no longer feel safe under the protection of the military, and we have lost total trust in their ability and willingness to secure our lives and property. We fear that we may wake up one day and be killed by the same people we believe are protecting us”.

The petition was copied to prominent stakeholders including the Och’Idoma IV, Senator Abba Moro, Hon. Ojotu Ojema, Hon. Godwin Abuh Edor, the Och’Agatu, and the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council.

The Agatu Indigenous Youth Association described the situation as urgent and called for swift action to prevent further loss of lives and restore confidence in the security architecture of the area.

When contacted the executive chairman of Agatu local government council, Mr. Melvin James- Ejeh, said he is yet to officially receive the petition.

Meanwhile, the military authorities is yet to respond to the petition.

However, when contacted the Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, LT. Zubairu Ahmad, declined comment, saying that he can’t speak on the matter and referred journalists back to Agatu local government chairman.