Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
One month after armed bandits stormed three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the 46 pupils and teachers who were dragged into the bush have not been freed, and Governor Seyi Makinde has appealed for deeper collaboration with federal security agencies as the search for the captives continues.
Makinde made the appeal on Monday while receiving the Deputy Inspector‑General of Police in charge of the South‑West, Olatoye Fayoade, who had visited the Governor’s Office in Ibadan. “Today marks exactly one month since the children and their teachers were abducted. It has been a traumatic and depressing situation for us as a government and for the people of Oyo,” Makinde said, according to a statement published by The Punch on 15 June 2026.
The coordinated school raids took place on 15 May 2026. Armed terrorists attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro‑Esinle, killing a teacher and abducting more than 45 pupils and staff. While some reports put the number of abducted persons at 46, official figures vary; the governor acknowledged that the exact number of victims remains part of ongoing investigations.
“The painful reality that the abducted children and their teachers have remained in captivity for a month underpins the need for sustained cooperation among security institutions and governments at all levels,” Makinde said. He described the abduction as “one of the most traumatic incidents to have confronted the state in recent times”, but he insisted that the government remained committed to working with federal security agencies “until all the victims regain their freedom”.
Makinde also used the meeting to stress the operational difficulties that have slowed the rescue effort. In a newsletter he released on Friday, 12 June 2026, he disclosed that intelligence reports placed the abducted group inside the Old Oyo National Park, a vast wilderness that stretches across nearly 2,500 square kilometres and touches ten local government areas in Oyo State. “The size and difficult terrain of the area pose significant operational challenges for security personnel, requiring patience, strategic coordination and sustained efforts to ensure a successful rescue operation,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that after a month of waiting, his repeated assurances that the captives would be brought home safely may now “sound hollow or empty” to the families, but he insisted that the commitment of the government and security agencies had not weakened. “We cannot share the details of what we are doing, but you can rest assured that every single day, we continue to pursue every credible lead and take every lawful action available to us to secure their release,” he said.
DIG Fayoade, who was on a nationwide tour of commands following a directive from the Inspector‑General of Police, assured the governor that the police force remained fully committed to the rescue mission. “No officer involved in the rescue efforts will relent until the victims are safely reunited with their families,” Fayoade said. He also conveyed the IGP’s goodwill message and commended Makinde for his support of security agencies operating in the state.
Makinde took the opportunity to commend the IGP’s recent establishment of a specialised Violent Crimes Unit, describing the initiative as one that had “already begun yielding positive results” in Oyo. He also urged the visiting DIG to relay the state’s appreciation to the IGP and to identify any areas where the state government could provide additional support to strengthen police operations. “Whatever we can do as a government, we are ready to do,” he said.
The governor appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities through the state’s toll‑free emergency line, 615, which is staffed 24 hours a day. He also warned against the spread of unverified information about the abduction. “Misinformation can compromise ongoing rescue efforts and hinder security operations,” he cautioned.
For the families of the 46 abducted pupils and teachers, the weeks of waiting have become a harrowing vigil. A teacher who was abducted with her baby, as well as the school principal, Mrs. Folawe Alamu, have appeared in videos released by the captors, pleading with the government to negotiate for their release. Security agencies have maintained that they are pursuing “every lawful measure” to secure the victims’ freedom without endangering their lives. The terrain and the sheer size of the park, however, have turned the search into a painstaking operation that shows no sign of a swift resolution.
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