Members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Oyo Area Unit (MSSN OYAU) on Sunday embarked on a solidarity visit to the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area.

The area has served as the epicentre of a wave of school abductions gripping the state since May.

The student delegation made the journey to console traumatized residents and reaffirm their support for the affected families.

The delegation which set out from the LAUTECH Central Mosque, travelling for over an hour and a half was received by the Elesiele of Esiele, Tajudeen Abioye, alongside other community leaders.

MSSN OYAU officials revealed that leadership had held an intense overnight meeting to deliberate on the crisis before immediately setting out for Oriire without sleep, underscoring the urgency they attached to the visit.

Speaking on behalf of the organization, the Naibul Amir of OYAU, Mallam Numan Basheer, and the Director of Studies, Yusuf Amule, expressed deep displeasure over the tragedy that had befallen the community.

Mallam Amule lamented that parents send their children to school in search of a bright future, emphasizing that educational environments should never become a source of misfortune.

He also noted how far removed the community currently is from modern development, praying for urgent infrastructural upgrades like network coverage.

The Amir of MSSN OYAU, Mallam Hussein Adepoju acknowledged that while many people remain too afraid to visit Oriire due to the volatile security situation, local families are forced to live through the ordeal daily.

Invoking the Qur’anic assurance that “with hardship comes ease,” the Amir firmly stressed that Islam categorically condemns kidnapping and violence.

He expressed deep empathy for the victims’ families, noting that only those experiencing such profound suffering can truly understand it.

Responding to the delegation, the Elesiele of Esiele, Tajudeen Abioye, commended the students for their immense courage in making the journey.

The traditional ruler expressed confidence that such security breaches would not be allowed to persist.

He remarked that no such incidents had occurred during the time of his forefathers, insisting that a crisis of this nature must not be allowed to define his own reign.

Corroborating the monarch’s stance, the village Imam strongly dismissed insinuations circulating in some quarters that the abductions were linked to an “Islamic conspiracy,” labeling the claims as completely false and contrary to Islamic teachings.

The cleric revealed that the crisis had severely disrupted trade and stalled business plans across the area.

He added that the community has already completed two full recitations of the Holy Qur’an to seek divine intervention for a swift resolution.

Before the gathering concluded, the Director of Secondary School Coordination (DSSC) for OYAU, Eleto, cautioned residents against relying on un-Islamic rituals being suggested by outsiders, urging them to remain steadfast in faith.