Oyo State has become a focal point of national concern following the mass abduction of students and teachers in Orire LGA.
Hundreds of victims, mostly students and educators, are reportedly being held in a forest by unidentified gunmen suspected to be terrorists. Negotiations for their release are ongoing.
The Nigeria Police and other security agencies have deployed to Orire LGA to coordinate rescue efforts and secure the safe return of those abducted.
Oyo School Abductions in Orire LGA – What We Know So Far
Oriire LGA is near Old Oyo National Park, an area security sources say bandits use as hideouts.
Recall that four passengers were abducted on Igbeti-Kishi Road, but were later rescued on March 5, 2026.
Gunmen on Friday May 15, 2026 around 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. attacked three schools in Esiele/Ahoro-Esinele community, Oriire LG:
1. Community Grammar School, Esiele
2. Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota
3. L.A. Primary School, Esiele
About 12 gunmen on 6 motorcycles, dressed in military camouflage, stormed the schools shooting indiscriminately.
According to reports, the gunmen communicated in Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin.
A mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the gunmen.
A motorcyclist was killed during the attack.
A security personnel died after running into IEDs planted by the abductors during rescue operations.
Governor Seyi Makinde: 32 people abducted, including 7 students from Community Secondary School, 18 children and 7 teachers from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.
Other sources claimed that 48 people abducted, including 39 pupils/students and 7 teachers.
Amnesty International: 40 children abducted in Oyo on May 15 alone, as part of schoolchildren abducted in Borno and Oyo between May 13–15.
Some victims, primarily teachers, have been identified:
Mrs. Alamu Folawe, Principal, Community High School
– Mr. Ojo Jonathan, Vice Principal
– Mr. Olatunde Zacchaeus
– Mr. John Olaleye
– Mr. Michael Oyedokun
– Mrs. Oladeji
– Mary Akanbi
Videos of Principal Alamu and teacher Temitope pleading for help have surfaced on social media and gone viral.
Tactical and intelligence units of the Oyo State Police Command have been deployed.
Amotekun Corps have launched forest/community operations with hunters and vigilantes.
Olatunji Disu, the Inspector General of Police, is leading a tech-driven operation.
As at time of filing this report, six (6) suspects have been arrested. These suspects are believed to be informants/logistics for the attackers.
Reports claimed that abductors are trapped in a section of Old Oyo National Park.
Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated a Violent Crime Response Unit as a response.
Makinde cited a “major intelligence gap” and urged residents to report suspicious activity faster.
Governor Seyi Makinde, while reacting to the incident, stated that they won’t surrender to terror but are prepared to listen to abductors’ demands to secure release.
President Bola Tinubu, in a press statement condemned the killing as “baric” and ordered the rescue of the victims.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), while reacting to the incident, strongly condemned the tragic incident, stating that silence becomes complicity when children are hunted in classrooms.
Olamiju Akala, Member of the House of Representatives, while reacting to the incident, called for a military base and state police in Orire LGA.
Teachers and students, while expressing their grievances, shut down schools in Ogbomoso and protested to TESCOM over the abduction and killing.
As at the time of filing this report, rescue operations are still ongoing and no victim has been released.
