Seventeen days after some criminals kidnapped 46 pupils and teachers at Esiele and Yawota villages in Orire and Ogbomoso Local Government Areas of Oyo State, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday directed security agencies to go after the criminals and rescue the captives.
This was after one of the abductees had been gruesomely beheaded by the bandits, who sent out the video clips of the killing that have since gone viral.
Besides, the president sent a delegation to visit the scenes.
This followed public outcry and protests over the bloody raid and killing of one of the victims.
The presidential team, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, included National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Tunde Disu, Inspector-General of Police.
Gen Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence; Joseph Tegbe, Minister of Power; and Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communications, were also included.
Bandits had on Friday, May 15, 2026 raided Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and two primary schools, Yawota and L.A. Primary, abducting seven teachers and 39 pupils including a two-year-old girl.
Dare disclosed this in a post on X(formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
“A powerful Presidential Delegation just arrived Ogbomoso enroute to the villages of Esiele and Yawota where armed men simultaneously raided Baptist Nursery and Primary schools seizing about 46 pupils and teachers.
“The area falls within the Orire Local Government, Ogbomosho axis of Oyo State.
“President Tinubu since set in motion series of coordinated efforts to free the victims and arrest the kidnappers.”
The President asked security agencies to bring the pupils and teachers home safely soonest.
He gave the directive through Gbajabiamila during a meeting with the community leaders and families of the abducted teachers, students, and pupils.
The delegation met with community leaders and relatives of the victims as part of efforts to rescue the victims.
Delivered President Tinubu’s message to the grieving community, Gbajabiamila said that the president shares their sorrow and pain at this critical moment.
He said the president has directed all security agencies to rescue all those abducted in Oyo State and bring them back home safely.
According to him, the President saw some of the videos of those in captivity appealing to the government not to use violence in resolving the issues.
He assured that the president promised that the rescue approach to be adoptedi would be intelligence-driven, and the ultimate goal is to ensure that the abducted teachers and pupils return home unharmed.
The President’s Chief of Staff added that a support system, and trauma counselling, would be provided for affected families, assuring that the safety of every Nigerian child and the entire citizenry of the country remains Tinubu’s priority.
On his part, Ribadu said the abduction of infants is a new tactic by kidnappers and assured that the insecurity issue will be solved.
He added that forest guards will be deployed to Oyo State, particularly to schools in the rural community, to safeguard the children.
Also, in his address, Musa appealed to the community leaders to work closely with the security agents deployed to their community.
He said the entire Oriire community is being monitored with a technology device.
The defence minister asked them to report any strange visitors or suspicious acts in their environment to rescue the kidnapped victims as soon as possible.
The high-level visit comes amid growing public concern over the incident, which has sparked protests and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and rural communities across Oyo State.
Earlier on Saturday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde visited Ogbomoso and reassured residents that his administration would continue to deploy every available effort to secure the safe return of the abducted teachers and pupils.
Addressing members of the community, the governor appealed for patience, understanding, and cooperation, urging residents not to apportion blame to either the federal or state government but to unite behind efforts to rescue the victims.
Makinde sympathised with the affected families and the wider community, describing the incident as unprecedented, particularly because it involved the abduction of underage children.
Specifically, the governor addressed the families of teachers and pupils abducted in Ahoro, Esiele, Yawota Community in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, during his visit to the community.
He said he shared in the pain and grief of the victims’ families, adding that regardless of any grievances the abductors might claim to have, their actions remained cruel, unacceptable, and inhumane.
The governor also recalled the sacrifices made by operatives of the Western Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, some of whom have lost their lives while tackling security challenges across the state.
He disclosed that since the abduction occurred, he had been holding security meetings twice daily and working closely with relevant security agencies to facilitate the safe return of the victims.
Makinde further commended security commanders for their dedication and commitment to protecting lives and property in the state and called on residents to continue praying for the success of ongoing rescue efforts.
“Don’t cry. I have come here today because of you. You installed this government. I want to let you know that this government is responsible for you. By the grace of God and your cooperation, we will bring back our children and the teachers.
“Please, I want you to cooperate with us because we are doing everything humanly possible to get our children and teachers back,” Makinde said.
He added: “This is not the time to start trading blame on who should be responsible for the release of these children between the state and the federal government. This is just the time to come together to rescue our children and their teachers.
“I feel your pain but have trust in us.”
The abduction occurred on May 15 when gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, and kidnapped 45 pupils and teachers.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, reportedly a Mathematics teacher, was reportedly beheaded by the attackers.
The incident drew widespread condemnation, with both Governor Makinde and President Bola Tinubu promising swift action to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, with many of the abductees still in captivity more than two weeks after the attack, anxiety has continued to grow across Oyo State and beyond.
The mounting frustration culminated in a peaceful protest last Monday in Ogbomoso, where teachers suspended classroom activities and marched to the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) office to demand urgent government intervention.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters called on authorities at all levels to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
They also urged the government to strengthen security around schools and guarantee safer learning environments for both students and education workers.
Earlier on Friday, hundreds of teachers and civil society activists had marched through Ibadan, Oyo State capital, demanding immediate action by the state and Federal Governments to rescue the abductees.
The protest was led by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group and the Nigeria Teachers Congress, NTC, which demanded that the Government should take more decisive steps to rescue the victims.
NTC National President Rev. Bunmi Thomas had told protesters that the rally was lawful and necessary, saying, “We are demanding pragmatic action from government to secure the release of the abducted teachers and students,” he said.
While acknowledging ongoing rescue efforts, Thomas insisted more must be done: “If the government is trying and the result is not there, then efforts must be intensified.”
He raised alarm over the children’s condition: “We have kids as young as two and three years old in the bush, exposed to rain and harsh weather.”
Thomas also called for security in all public schools: “We cannot continue to work while living in danger. Government must attach security personnel to every government school.”
He stressed the protest was not against Governor Seyi Makinde: “No reasonable teacher in Oyo State is against Governor Makinde because he has performed excellently well.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Assistant on Security Matters, retired CP Sunday Odukoya, who addressed the protesters on behalf of the state government, said it was their constitutional right to protest and let government know their concerns, assuring that rescue operations were ongoing.
Odukoya also promised that no teacher would be victimized for joining the protest.
Protesters said their only demand is the safe and swift return of the kidnapped teachers and pupils.
