Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has pleaded with families of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area to forgo any form of protest, warning that such actions would only “fuel the ego” of the bandits and complicate ongoing rescue efforts. Speaking on Sunday, 31 May 2026, during a thanksgiving service for the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Headquarters in Ibadan, the governor described banditry and terrorism as serious security challenges confronting the country. He urged relatives of the victims to remain calm and prayerful, stating that “this is not the time for protest.” He added, “Terrorists and bandits do not think like normal people. If they did, they would not be carrying out such acts. Protests at this moment may only fuel their ego.” Makinde stressed that security agencies and government authorities were working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and teachers, and that the priority now was for all stakeholders to work together rather than apportion blame.
The attack on three schools in Oriire LGA occurred on 15 May 2026, when armed bandits on motorcycles stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro‑Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. The assailants killed an assistant headmaster, Mr Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist, and abducted a yet‑to‑be‑confirmed number of pupils, students and teachers. A mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded in captivity in a viral video that sparked national outrage. The abducted principal, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has appeared in subsequent videos pleading with the government to negotiate for their release, warning that the captors were becoming impatient. Governor Makinde acknowledged that the situation was “a very tough period for me as a person and also for our state,” but insisted that protests could worsen the crisis. He assured the public that the government was “doing everything possible” to bring back the children and their teachers, adding that “only God can touch their hearts.” His appeal came as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State and called for nationwide solidarity rallies. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has deployed a specialised rescue team and approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State as part of renewed efforts to secure the victims’ release.
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