Bolatito Mercy
On Friday, May 15, 2026, suspected bandits attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted scores of pupils and teachers. The coordinated raids targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele. One teacher was reportedly killed during the assault. Local accounts put the number of abductees at over 45, though authorities have not released an exact figure.
Twenty-seven days later, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde provided an update through his Newsletter No. 140 released on Friday, June 12, 2026. He confirmed that the children and their teachers were still in captivity. Makinde described the situation as deeply distressing for families and communities, saying that for 27 days families had gone to bed without their loved ones while communities lived with uncertainty.
According to intelligence reports cited by the governor, the victims are still being held within the wider Old Oyo National Park axis. The park covers approximately 2,500 square kilometres and stretches across parts of 10 local government areas in Oyo State. Makinde said the size and difficult, forested terrain of the park pose significant operational challenges for security personnel. Those conditions require patience, strategic coordination, and sustained efforts to ensure a successful rescue operation.
Makinde acknowledged that his repeated assurances might sound empty to families after nearly a month without results. He stated that he had said many times that the government would get the victims home safely, and he understands those words may now sound hollow. Still, he insisted the assurances were not empty and that the state government and security agencies were doing everything within their power to bring them home safely. He stressed that every credible lead was being pursued and every lawful measure was being deployed to secure the safe release of the abductees.
The governor explained that operational details could not be made public for security reasons. He cautioned residents against spreading unverified information that could compromise ongoing efforts. To aid the operation, he urged people to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities through the state’s toll-free Citizens Enquiry Number, 615. He said the victims remained the focus of ongoing rescue efforts.
Civil society groups have expressed anger over the prolonged captivity. The Oodua People’s Congress, led by Iba Gani Adams, criticized both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Makinde for the delay in securing the release of the pupils and teachers. Protests took place in Ibadan, Osun, and Kwara, with demonstrators saying the children were enduring difficult conditions without medical attention or adequate food. The OPC noted that it has coordinators in all 33 local government areas of Oyo and offered to assist in the rescue operation.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of schools in rural communities and the use of large forest reserves as hideouts by armed groups. Old Oyo National Park, designated as a conservation area, has become a corridor for bandits because of its vast, ungoverned spaces and limited security presence. The abduction on May 15 adds to a pattern of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria that continue to disrupt learning and traumatize communities.
Makinde ended his update by asking for continued prayers and support for the security agencies handling the case. He maintained that the state had not relented and would not relent until the pupils and teachers were reunited with their families. For now, the victims remain inside the park corridor as security forces work through the terrain and intelligence challenges to locate and extract them safely.
