The National Association of Okun Students (NAOS) has strongly condemned the bandit attack on a school in Iluke Bunu, Kogi State, describing the incident as another sign of the worsening insecurity confronting communities across Okunland.
The association called for an immediate review of the region’s security framework and urged traditional rulers, political leaders, security agencies, and community stakeholders to convene an emergency security summit aimed at finding lasting solutions to the growing wave of violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National President, Olu Opeyemi, NAOS expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of kidnappings, killings, attacks on travellers, and invasions of communities across the region.
According to the association, residents now live in constant fear as criminal activities continue to spread.
“The frequency of these attacks is becoming unbearable. Hardly a week passes without reports of kidnappings, attacks on travellers, invasions of communities, and loss of lives. Our people deserve to live in peace and carry out their daily activities without fear of being attacked by criminal elements,” the statement read.
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NAOS said the attack on Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, which claimed the lives of three people, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child, highlights the urgent need for coordinated action from all stakeholders.
The association urged traditional rulers, elected officials, community leaders, and security agencies to come together and develop practical strategies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve community vigilance, enhance rapid response mechanisms, and deepen collaboration with security operatives.
“We need to act now. Every day of delay exposes more innocent people to danger. Our traditional rulers, political leaders, and security agencies must work together to design practical solutions that will strengthen intelligence gathering, community vigilance, rapid response mechanisms, and collaboration with security operatives,” Opeyemi stated.
The student body stressed that the protection of lives and property must be treated as a priority above political interests, noting that collective action is needed to restore safety across the region.
It also called on federal, state, and local governments to provide adequate support and resources to security agencies and local communities to help tackle criminal activities effectively.
NAOS expressed sympathy with the victims of recent attacks and their families, while reaffirming its commitment to advocating for a safer and more peaceful Okunland.
The attack on the Iluke Bunu school has once again drawn attention to the security challenges facing Okunland, the Yoruba-speaking part of Kogi State, where residents have repeatedly raised concerns over kidnappings, armed attacks, and other violent crimes that continue to threaten lives, education, and economic activities.
