Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, says bandits holding abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have threatened to kill the hostages if security forces attempt a rescue operation.
Speaking to Vanguard, Musa said the kidnappers are using the victims as human shields while demanding the release of some of their commanders in government custody. “The group that kidnapped the children in Oyo State are using them as human shields. They have also threatened that if security forces move against them, they will kill the children,” he said.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, during attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, L.A. Primary School, and Community Grammar School in Esiele. Reports indicate that between 38 and 46 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped. One teacher was killed during the attack, while another, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, was later murdered in captivity.
Musa said security agencies are combining intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, and negotiations to secure the hostages’ release while avoiding further risk to their lives. He added that security forces have surrounded the suspected hideouts, while President Bola Tinubu has deployed a high-level delegation to support ongoing efforts. More than 50 days after the abduction, families continue to await the victims’ safe return.
