Amid growing tension over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, members of the affected community have turned to traditional spiritual intervention, seeking divine help for the safe return of the victims.
A viral video shared on Tuesday showed a traditional priest identified as the Onisa of Esin Ele, Muraina Mutairo, performing rituals and prayers aimed at confronting the kidnappers and protecting the abducted schoolchildren.
In the footage, the priest appeared in traditional attire while chanting incantations in Yoruba language, calling on ancestral forces and deities to expose the abductors, rescue the victims, and restore peace to the community.
During the ceremony, a monarch joined the prayers, appealing for the safe and unharmed return of the students, teachers, and other victims still in captivity.
The spiritual leaders also prayed for confusion to strike the camp of the kidnappers and asked that security operatives successfully capture those responsible for the attack, whether alive or dead.
The incident followed Friday’s invasion of three schools in the Ahoro-Esinele axis of Oriire Local Government Area by armed bandits. During the attack, about 30 pupils, students, and teachers were reportedly abducted, while two people lost their lives.
The affected schools included Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
The abduction has continued to generate widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond, with residents, community leaders, religious groups, and traditional institutions demanding urgent action to secure the release of the victims and improve security in vulnerable communities.
