Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State Government has ordered relevant officials to follow up on learners affected by the May 15 abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, as pupils of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, remained absent from school despite the commencement of the new academic session. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, issued the directive on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during a working visit to rescued learners, teachers, and host communities at Ahoro Dada.
Olayiwola, who led senior officials of the ministry to the affected communities, engaged students, teachers, parents, traditional rulers, security personnel, and other stakeholders on measures to ensure the safe and effective return of learners to school. At Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, the delegation observed that the school had not resumed for the first term. The commissioner also interacted with parents and children in the Yawota community, where concerns were raised about children who had not returned to school and were instead engaged in skills-acquisition activities during school hours.
While visiting some of the locations where the children were learning various skills, Olayiwola urged parents to remain committed to their children's education and directed relevant officials to follow up on the affected learners and facilitate their return to school, to prevent a further increase in the number of out-of-school children in the state. He also directed the Director of Basic Education to liaise with the Nigerian Baptist Conference on possible interventions to support the school and prevent its closure, noting that the institution is a private school owned by the Conference.
The May 15 attack on schools in Yawota and the neighbouring Ahoro-Esiele community resulted in the abduction of 46 schoolchildren and teachers, who spent 56 days in captivity before their rescue on July 10, 2026. The attack targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, L.A. Primary School (Ahoro-Esinele), and Community Grammar School (Ahoro-Esinele). The abduction triggered widespread concerns about the safety of schools in the area and led to resistance to school resumption by teachers' representatives, who had demanded adequate security measures before schools could reopen.
During the visit, the Elesinele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abisoye, reaffirmed the palace's support for schools and teachers in the area, saying accommodation had been provided for government teachers in the community. He, however, raised concern over the continued use of the community's Primary Health Centre by military personnel as accommodation, noting that the development was affecting the activities of medical personnel.
At Ahoro-Esiele Community Grammar School, which has resumed activities, teachers identified a shortage of personnel, particularly Mathematics teachers, as a major challenge. Olayiwola directed the Tutor General to facilitate the posting of additional teachers to the school. He also received an appeal from Parent-Teacher Association teachers seeking absorption into the Teaching Service Commission, based on their continued commitment to the school before, during and after the security incident. He directed the Tutor General to prepare a submission on the engagement of interested indigenes of the community who are willing to teach, for onward consideration by the Executive Governor of Oyo State.
The government's follow-up efforts underscore the challenge of restoring normalcy in communities where the trauma of abduction continues to shape the decisions of parents and children. While the rescued pupils have returned to their families, the fear of fresh attacks has kept many away from the classrooms, with some turning to vocational skills instead. The Oyo State Government has said it remains committed to ensuring every school is open and functional to accommodate children, but the success of its efforts will depend on whether parents can be convinced that their children will be safe. For now, the classrooms of Yawota remain empty, and the government's appeal hangs in the balance.
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