Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors

The founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has dropped a bombshell allegation that politicians are actively sponsoring the kidnapping of schoolchildren across Nigeria, as the nation grapples with a worsening abduction crisis that has seen over 600 students and teachers taken from their classrooms since 2024.

Speaking during a fiery church service that has since gone viral across social media platforms, the outspoken cleric did not hold back as he tackled the growing insecurity head-on, questioning why security agencies—particularly the Department of State Services (DSS) —have been unable to apprehend those responsible despite possessing advanced tracking technologies. Ibiyeomie made the explosive claim amid a recent wave of abductions involving students and teachers in states such as Sokoto and Oyo, which has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for urgent school safety reforms.

Standing confidently in his signature white attire before his congregation, Ibiyeomie declared that the kidnappers could not possibly be carrying out such large-scale operations without the backing of powerful and influential individuals. He argued that the brazen nature of the abductions—where victims are publicly displayed and ransom demands are widely circulated—points to the involvement of high-profile sponsors who operate with impunity. “They are not just picking these children without sponsors. Politicians must be behind it; they cannot abduct children and publicly display their pictures without support from powerful people,” Ibiyeomie declared to his congregation. The pastor’s comments have since ignited intense debate across Nigeria, with many citizens demanding that security agencies investigate his allegations while others call for concrete evidence to back the claims against political figures.

The clergyman directed sharp criticism at the Department of State Services (DSS) , questioning why the agency has failed to track and arrest the perpetrators despite its technological capabilities and legal mandate. He argued that modern surveillance, phone tracking, and geolocation technologies should make it possible to locate anyone making calls or sending messages in connection with these crimes, yet no arrests have been made. “Do you know that even the DSS can track people and know where they are, so how come they are not tracking these kidnappers?” Ibiyeomie queried during his sermon. The pastor further suggested that the continued success of kidnappers—who operate freely across multiple states—points to the strong possibility of hidden forces actively aiding their operations and shielding them from arrest. “There must be an invisible hand behind it because if you are calling from anywhere, they would know the spot where you are, so how come in Nigeria nobody is ever caught?” he added.

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The pastor’s allegations come against the backdrop of alarming statistics that reveal the true scale of Nigeria’s school abduction crisis under the current administration. According to a media tally compiled from verified reports, no fewer than 603 students and teachers have been kidnapped in seven mass abductions across schools in Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026 under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These figures represent only the major incidents and do not account for smaller, unreported abductions in remote communities. The repeated attacks have raised serious questions over the effectiveness of the N145 billion Safe Schools Initiative, a fund introduced after the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction to protect educational institutions across the country. Stakeholders have repeatedly blamed weak implementation, lack of basic infrastructure such as perimeter fencing and guard posts, poor security presence in rural schools, and insufficient coordination between federal and state governments for the continued vulnerability of Nigerian schools.

On March 7, 2024, armed men on motorcycles attacked LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, abducting 137 schoolchildren in one of the largest mass abductions of the year. Just two days later, on March 9, 2024, gunmen stormed a Tsangaya (Islamic) school in Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto State, abducting 15 students in a raid that highlighted the vulnerability of non-formal education institutions. In November 2025, a deeply troubling incident saw 25 schoolgirls abducted from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, raising fresh fears about the safety of female students in northern Nigeria. Later in 2025, a staggering 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, marking one of the largest single abductions in recent memory. On May 15, 2026, armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting 39 students and seven teachers. Two teachers—Michael Oyedokun, who reportedly died while in captivity, and Adesiyan Adegboye, who lost his life during the attack—were killed, along with one pupil. Just two days after the Oyo attack, on May 17, 2026, 42 students were abducted after suspected Boko Haram fighters invaded a school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of Islamist insurgent groups targeting educational institutions.

Switching from political criticism to spiritual warfare, the fiery cleric turned to the Bible to declare divine judgment on all those involved in the criminal enterprise of kidnapping schoolchildren. Quoting Ezekiel 35:6, Ibiyeomie prayed passionately over his congregation: “Everyone sponsoring this evil in Nigeria, let them and their children die by blood,” warning that the sword of judgment would never depart from the wicked. His imprecatory prayer has since sparked heated debate online, with some applauding his boldness while others question the appropriateness of praying for death upon alleged perpetrators. This is not the first time the Salvation Ministries founder has made such dramatic declarations against kidnappers. In a November 2025 video shared on his official Facebook page, Ibiyeomie declared that any kidnapper who abducts a member of his church would die within seven days. “Any kidnapper who dared you before will die in seven days. Anyone that dares any member of Salvation Ministry or any of our loved ones, by Sunday this week, I pronounce them dead,” he had said in the viral video that attracted millions of views.

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Meanwhile, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have firmly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers over the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso on May 15. The lawmakers insisted that the focus must remain on intensified rescue operations, intelligence-led security action, and sustained pressure on the abductors until all victims are freed unharmed. Speaking during plenary, the Speaker of the Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, warned that negotiating with kidnappers would set a dangerous precedent that could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks across the state and beyond. “We cannot reward criminality with negotiation. That will only embolden them to strike again,” Ogundoyin was quoted as saying.

The abduction crisis has sparked nationwide protests coordinated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) across the Federal Capital Territory and multiple states including Edo, Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Osun, Lagos, Niger, and several others. Teachers wearing red armbands have taken to the streets in major cities, demanding immediate government action to secure the release of abducted colleagues and students and to implement lasting safety measures in all schools. In the National Assembly, the Senate resumed plenary after the Sallah recess and observed a one-minute silence in honour of the victims of school abductions. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the Oyo incident as an attack on Nigeria’s collective humanity, stating: “We resume our work under the mournful shadow of a tragedy that has shaken our nation. The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State is not merely an attack on innocent citizens; it is an assault on our collective humanity.” In the House of Representatives, lawmakers called on the Federal Government and security agencies to immediately secure the release of abducted schoolchildren across the country. They also demanded the urgent implementation of a comprehensive national Safe Schools Security Framework to protect educational institutions nationwide, with specific timelines and accountability measures.

At the time of filing this report, the Department of State Services (DSS) had not issued any official response to Pastor Ibiyeomie’s allegations regarding political sponsorship of school abductions or his questioning of the agency’s tracking capabilities. The agency has historically maintained a policy of not commenting on operational matters or public accusations. However, civil society organizations and concerned citizens have continued to demand transparency and accountability from security agencies as the wave of abductions shows no sign of abating. As Nigeria continues to grapple with this deepening crisis, all eyes remain on security agencies to track down the perpetrators, rescue the remaining captives, and bring an end to the nightmare that has seen hundreds of innocent children torn from their classrooms and held in captivity for weeks and months.

Schoolchildren Abductions: Pastor Ibiyeomie Drops Bombshell, Names Sponsors