The Oyo State Government has dismissed widespread social media claims suggesting that pupils and teachers abducted during last Friday’s deadly attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area have regained freedom.
The state government said the victims remained in captivity as of Thursday morning, urging residents to disregard unverified reports circulating online.
The clarification followed viral posts that emerged late Wednesday claiming that the kidnapped students and teachers had been rescued. While some users celebrated the alleged release, others questioned the authenticity of the reports due to the absence of confirmation from security agencies or major media organisations.
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Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde, Abayomi Fagbenro, described the reports as false.
“As of 10:35 am, it’s not true,” Fagbenro said while responding to enquiries from journalists.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Olayinka Ayanlade, also said he had no information confirming the release of the victims.
According to him, security agencies were still intensifying operations to secure the safe return of those abducted during the coordinated attack.
Gunmen had invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso in Oriire Local Government Area, killing at least one person and abducting scores of pupils, students and teachers.
The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and LEA Primary School, Esiele oyo state.
Governor Seyi Makinde earlier disclosed that seven students were abducted from Community Grammar School, while 18 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
The oyo attack has triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the growing spread of violent kidnappings into parts of South-West Nigeria traditionally considered relatively safer than the North-East and North-West.
Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to support ongoing rescue operations and strengthen intelligence gathering in the affected communities.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also reacted to the development, calling for what he described as a “careful, clinical and timely” operation to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers without endangering their lives.
Earlier this week, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working alongside other security agencies to facilitate the victims’ rescue.
The military also linked the attack to suspected terrorists displaced from other regions following intensified operations against insurgent groups across the country.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, the Defence Headquarters identified the attackers as members of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad faction who allegedly moved into the South-West after being dislodged from previous strongholds.
The development has heightened fears among residents in Oyo communities, with many parents expressing anxiety over the safety of schools in rural areas.
Security analysts have also warned that the spread of heavily armed criminal groups into South-West states may require stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved intelligence sharing and increased surveillance around vulnerable communities and educational institutions.
Governor Makinde has repeatedly assured residents that his administration is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe return of all abducted victims.
As of Thursday evening, however, there was still no official confirmation of any rescue or release operation involving the kidnapped teachers and pupils.
