Tension remains high in Oyo State as armed gunmen continue to hold pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The kidnappers have now outlined strict conditions they say must be met before the children and their teachers will be released.
The Attack and Current Situation
On May 15, 2026, gunmen on motorcycles attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota, and Alawusa communities: Baptist Nursery and Primary School Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School Ahoro-Esiele. Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed 39 pupils and 7 teachers were taken, while one mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun of Community High School Ahoro-Esinele, was later killed. A video showing his execution circulated on May 17, and the governor confirmed the killing on May 18.
According to police, the assailants fled into nearby forests. Eight suspects have since been detained and are assisting authorities, but the remaining victims are still in captivity.
The Terrorists’ Demands
Security sources and reports from _Saturday Punch_ say the abductors, identified as members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (Ansaru), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, have made a four-point demand for the release of the pupils and teachers:
1. *Release of commanders*: Immediate freedom for two detained Ansaru leaders – Mahmud Usman, aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy Abubakar Abba, aka Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri. Both are currently facing terrorism charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and are linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
2. *₦1 billion ransom*: Reports say the ransom is to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, though the figure has not been independently verified.
3. *Two Hilux vehicles*: The group also requested two Toyota Hilux vans.
4. *Sharia law implementation*: The kidnappers are demanding the implementation of localized Sharia-related laws.
The Oyo State Government has declined to comment on the demands, with Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade saying it would be “unhelpful” to disclose strategy while rescue efforts continue.
Government and Security Response
Governor Makinde described the teacher’s killing as “deeply painful” and promised a decisive state response. The Nigerian Air Force has deployed surveillance aircraft to track the abducted pupils and teachers, while joint teams of soldiers, police, and local vigilantes are combing the forests.
Security analysts warn the government is in a “tight corner.” Retired Brig-Gen Bashir Adewinbi said paying ransom or releasing terrorist commanders would embolden criminal groups, while retired Brig-Gen Peter Aro urged authorities to first establish proof that the abductees are alive.
The United Nations has also weighed in. UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall called for the “safe release of the schoolchildren and their teachers,” saying “schools must remain safe havens for learning and not places of fear. Children should never be a target”.
Protests and School Shutdowns
The abductions have sparked nationwide outrage. The Nigeria Union of Teachers ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw services from June 1, 2026 until the victims are freed. Teachers in Osun, Akwa Ibom, and other states have staged solidarity protests with placards reading “Free Our Teachers and Students Now” and “Government Should Act Now”.
In Ibadan, the Take-It-Back Movement protested at Mokola Roundabout under the banner “Bring Back Our Pupils and Teachers.” In Ogbomoso, teachers shut down classrooms and marched to TESCOM. Private schools in Ibadan also closed on June 5 in solidarity.
Parents are terrified. One mother in a viral protest video said: “As from today, my own children, they are not going to school until you release those children. Other parents should allow their kids stay at home pending the release of the innocent people in captivity”.
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