Thirty-six days after dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, security operatives say the terrorists responsible remain trapped inside the vast Old Oyo National Park but are deploying increasingly dangerous tactics to frustrate rescue efforts.
Intelligence sources involved in the operation disclosed that the abductors have planted improvised explosive devices, changed locations repeatedly and allegedly used their captives as human shields to prevent a direct military assault.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esinle; and Community Grammar School, Esiele. More than 40 pupils and teachers were reportedly taken into the forest, while one teacher was later killed in captivity.
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Sources familiar with the rescue operation said security forces have effectively blocked escape routes around the forest reserve, making it difficult for the terrorists to move the victims out of the area.
“They cannot leave the forest. They know they are being monitored and that security operatives are closing in. That is why they keep moving the victims from one location to another,” a security source said.
The operation, however, has come at a cost. Governor Seyi Makinde recently confirmed that military personnel, including an army officer, had lost their lives during rescue efforts.
Security officials said the biggest challenge remains the presence of children and teachers among the terrorists.
“They are using the victims as shields. Any reckless operation could endanger innocent lives, which is why security agencies are proceeding cautiously,” one source explained.
Authorities also suspect that increased attacks in other parts of the country may be part of a broader strategy to stretch security resources and divert attention from the ongoing rescue mission in Oyo.
Retired military officers have warned that such diversionary tactics are common among terrorist groups seeking to reduce pressure on their operational bases.
Experts also expressed concern over reports that the terrorists have planted explosives throughout parts of the forest, warning that the development could complicate rescue efforts and pose long-term dangers to local communities.
The Oyo State Government has maintained a cautious approach to public communication, insisting that operational details will only be released through authorised channels.
Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade said government officials were deliberately limiting public disclosures to avoid jeopardising the rescue mission.
Makinde had earlier revealed that intelligence reports indicated the abducted pupils and teachers remained within the Old Oyo National Park axis. The governor also confirmed that aerial surveillance assets had been deployed to support intelligence gathering and tracking operations.
The abduction has heightened concerns about the spread of school-targeted attacks beyond Nigeria’s traditional conflict zones, with security analysts warning that prolonged captivity could deepen fear among parents, disrupt learning and undermine confidence in school safety.
