A Northern Islamic cleric has alleged that the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State was deliberately orchestrated as part of a larger plan to frame Northerners and justify punitive actions against them. In a video circulated online via Arena Source, the cleric suggested that the incident was staged to create a false narrative, noting his concern over how quickly blame was attributed to the Fulani community following the attacks.
The cleric argued that the rapid finger-pointing at Fulani individuals, occurring even before official investigations had commenced, points to a potential hidden agenda. He stated that the kidnapping, which resulted in the abduction of dozens of students and teachers from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area, is being leveraged to promote ethnic profiling and provide a pretext for actions against Northerners.
The incident in Oyo State, which took place on May 15, 2026, involved the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers.The attack, described by witnesses as a coordinated raid by armed men in military camouflage, has sparked national outrage, widespread protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and urgent calls for intervention from the House of Representatives. Security agencies are currently conducting intensive operations to secure the release of the victims, who are reportedly being held in the forest areas of the Old Oyo National Park.
