The Muslim Community of Oyo State, on Sunday, converged at the Yidi Praying ground, Agodi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, to seek divine intervention amid rising cases of banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities across the state.
They also called for unity among Nigerians, irrespective of their social, tribe or political affiliation, as the most potent weapon against insecurity threatening the nation.
The prayer, which was convened with the permission of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere, also drew clerics, community leaders and faithful from across the 11 local government areas that make up Ibadanland.
The reports that over 40 teachers and students were kidnapped on Friday, May 15, 2026, during a coordinated attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Also, Mrs Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, who is a younger sister to the former power minister, Adebayo Adelabu, was kidnapped alongside her 12-year-old twin sons at Elewura-Challenge in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday.
The abduction was carried out by some armed attackers who were said to have trailed the car conveying the victims from their home before flagging them down at 7.30 am at the scene of the incident.
The victims had, however, been rescued on Saturday, May 7, 2026, three days after abduction.
Speaking during the prayer session organised in Ibadan, on Sunday, the guest lecturer, Muyideen Onihantu, who is the coordinator of all Islamic preachers in the state, said, “The essence of the prayer is to seek God’s face over the insecurity that has robbed citizens of peace of mind.
“The session is not a Yoruba affair alone, as members of the Hausa, Nupe and Tapa communities were also in attendance to emphasise that unity, not tribal or political sentiment, remained the key to victory over the challenges confronting the country.”
Onihantu stressed that for prayers to be accepted, the people must be united, have faith in their Maker, support government efforts and shun partisanship, insisting that the matter at hand transcended political parties and bordered on the peace and rest of mind of all Nigerians.
Corroborating him, the Chief Imam of Sabo, Ibrahim Abdullahi, expressed gratitude for the meeting, adding that the gathering had shown the need for unity while praying for the safe return of abducted students and teachers.
He urged the government to do more than it was currently doing to secure quick results, lamenting that the rescue efforts were taking too long.
Speaking on behalf of the state chairman of the Muslim Community, Kunle Sanni, the state Secretary-General, Abidemi Siyanbade, said, “The community was deeply saddened by the abductions in Oriire, fearing that the incursion of bandits into the South-West through Ogbomoso could open the floodgates to other regions if not urgently checked.”
Siyanbade disclosed that reports indicated children were among the abductees undergoing harsh conditions in captivity, with some adults too frail to withstand the ordeal, hence the urgent need to seek Allah’s intervention for their speedy and safe release.
He said, “With the calibre of people present, representing the whole of Ibadanland and Oyo in general, Allah would answer the supplications and make the incident the last of such operations by criminal elements.”
Dismissing claims that the bandits were acting in the name of Islam, Siyanbade recounted the testimony of a freed victim who said none of the captors observed daily prayers, adding that they indulged in liquor, hard drugs and sexual assaults.
“They are not Muslims; they are criminals who are here to endanger the peace and tranquillity of our country.
“Let me use this period to advise Nigerians to rise through prayers and by providing timely intelligence to security operatives and the government,” he said.
He maintained that security is the responsibility of everybody and urged citizens not to keep silent when they see strangers or suspicious movements in their communities, describing the fight against insecurity as a war that must be won collectively.
Also speaking, the National President of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Mustafa Olumide, said the student body was worst hit by the unrest, hence the decision of the Muslim community to organise the prayer while security agencies intensify efforts.
He noted that God, who created the kidnappers, has the power to touch their hearts for the release of the children, but advised the government to overhaul the nation’s security architecture to match the mandate of protecting lives and property.
Olumide warned that if kidnappings were not halted, school enrolment would drop as parents were already withdrawing their wards from schools, particularly after the Oyo incident.
Dignitaries at the prayers included Rasheed Olawoore (Omo Oku Orun), the National President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria; Tajudeen Mustapha, the National Secretary-General of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, Mas’ud Akintola, the state missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Bashir Elesinmeta, and the state missioner of Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society, Sheikh Sa’adudeen Adekilekun.