By Adesakin Adefemi
The newly elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, on Wednesday led a delegation to meet Yoruba nation activist Oloye Sunday Igboho over the ongoing hostage situation involving abducted students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to a press statement signed by Akinteye on June 4, 2026, the visit was aimed at exploring ways to forestall further abductions and identify areas of collaboration with Iru Ekun, the local security outfit led by Igboho. The meeting, NANS said, was driven by the urgency of securing the safe return of the victims.
Akinteye said the engagement became necessary as NANS had recommended the use of vetted local volunteers, including former militia members, local hunters, and experienced community security volunteers willing to support government and community efforts in tackling insecurity.
Addressing Igboho, the NANS president expressed the grief of Nigerian students over the abduction in Oriire LGA. He said the association’s visit was rooted in Igboho’s long-standing advocacy for strengthening local security outfits to complement government efforts in addressing insecurity.
“We are deeply disturbed and committed to exploring every possible means to ensure the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted students and teachers, while measures are put in place to forestall further occurrences,” Akinteye stated.
In his response, Igboho commended NANS leadership for remaining non-partisan and emphatic in its demand for the immediate rescue of the abducted persons.
He described NANS as “truly the voice and foremost organization with the capacity to hold the government accountable” and praised its proactiveness in preventing future occurrences.
“This is not a time for politics but a trying moment in our history, during which every patriotic citizen must rise to the occasion,” Igboho said. He appealed to NANS not to grow weary in the quest to secure the release of the victims.
As part of its recommendations, Akinteye, speaking on behalf of the apex student body, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to equip the Iru Ekun local security outfit. He said such support would aid the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted students and teachers.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that we shall not compromise in our quest to ensure the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State,” the statement read.
Security agencies in Oyo State are yet to release an update on the number of abducted persons or efforts underway to secure their release.
