Nigeria, June 22 -- We have entered the sixth week since the first mass abduction by terrorists took place in southern Nigeria. Oyo, the southwest state that shares boundaries with two or three northern states, was the unfortunate victim. Oriire Local Government Area of the state was invaded by terrorists on 15th May, 2026. Teachers and schoolchildren, including toddlers, all numbering about 37, were whisked away from their schools.

Before now, mass abduction from schools or churches has been a northern phenomenon. The most notorious of such incidents remain those of Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014 and Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018. Oyo now wears the unfortunate tag of going the way of Borno and Yobe.

I make this recollection...