The leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has strongly condemned the abduction of pupils from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State, along with their teachers, and the brutal beheading of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, one of the teachers held captive. In a statement released by its Media Bureau and made available to The Guardian, the PFN, through its National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, expressed deep disappointment with the Federal Government over the heart-wrenching acts of insurgency spreading across Nigeria, despite repeated promises to ensure the safety of the country, especially for children.
PFN Denounces Insecurity and Government Failures
The statement emphasized that each new incident is an indictment on the government, exposing the failure of those assurances. The PFN described the continued abduction of pupils across the country as most disgraceful, asserting that no child should be forced to live in fear. It read in part: "Our foremost concern remains the safety of the pupils, teachers, and staff of Community High School, Ahoro Esinele in Oyo State. Our hearts are bleeding as we watched with horror the video released by the perpetrators, showing our brother, a devoted educator, bound, humiliated, and beheaded. This is not merely a heinous crime; it is a sacrilege against the sanctity of life, an assault on the teaching vocation, and a direct attack on the future of our nation."
Condolences and Call for Justice
The PFN extended its deepest condolences to Mr. Oyedokun's family, the bereaved Community High School, and the people of Oriire Local Council, praying to God to strengthen them in this hour of unspeakable loss. Describing the incident as a disgrace of the highest order, the National President stated that such an atrocity must not go unpunished. He said: "When armed gangs storm rural schools, kill those who resist, and carry away pupils and educators with impunity, the social contract between the state and the citizen is shattered. We are past the time for promises; actions that will sweep away insurgency are what we want. The blood of Mr. Oyedokun cries out for justice, not platitudes."
Warnings Unheeded and Call for Unified Action
The PFN noted that for years, it had warned that insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping, if left unchecked, would metastasize across Nigeria. Today, those warnings have come to pass, with the same brutality once confined to the north crossing the Niger. Bishop Oke urged federal and state governments to come together to fight this common enemy, stating: "The era of compartmentalized security responses is over. A threat to a child in Ahoro Esinele is a threat to a child in Abeokuta, Enugu, Katsina, and every community in Nigeria. The enemy has declared that no classroom is sacred, no teacher is immune from attacks, and no child is safe. If those in authority cannot guarantee the most basic duty—to protect every citizen—then by what authority does it govern?"
Demands for Immediate Rescue and Comprehensive Security
The Bishop demanded that immediate rescue operations begin, with every available resource—intelligence, personnel, and technology—deployed to locate and rescue the abducted pupils, teachers, and staff. He emphasized that half measures are no longer acceptable and called for justice, not just condolences, stressing that all involved should be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted. Bishop Oke further urged the government to implement a comprehensive security framework, including perimeter fencing, protocols, and community intelligence networks, as earlier advocated by the State House of Assembly. He called for a review of the nation's security architecture, organizing an emergency National Security Council session with governors, security chiefs, and civil society to overhaul Nigeria's approach to keeping schools and rural communities safe.
Appeal to Nigerians and Solidarity
Oke said: "Let our pulpits thunder with the truth that God sees the blood of the innocent and will judge the oppressor. One of the purposes of these satanic elements is to strike fear into the hearts of Nigerians. Please, do not give in to fear. Do not grow weary. Do not accept the narrative that this is 'just the way things are.' Silence is the kidnapper's greatest weapon. Speak out. Avail security operatives tangible information. Support initiatives that protect children and always hold leaders accountable." The PFN stands in solidarity with the families of the abducted, the grieving community of Ahoro Esinele, and all Nigerians who yearn for a nation where students can learn without fear and where the populace can live without fear. The statement concluded: "We mourn with those who mourn. We rage against injustice. And we commit to working, praying, and advocating until every child is safe, every teacher is protected, and every community is at peace. The blood of Michael Oyedokun is a stain on our national conscience. Let his death not be in vain. Let it be the catalyst for decisive action that Nigeria has delayed too long in taking."
