ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has expressed his deep condolences to the families of dozens of pupils and teachers abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, declaring that no child in Nigeria should ever be taken from a place of learning.
In a formal statement released from the presidency on Monday, 1 June 2026, President Tinubu said he shared the profound pain and anxiety of the families affected by the coordinated raids on the rural communities of Esiele and Yawota.
The mass abduction, which took place on 15 May 2026, has triggered a fresh wave of nationwide concern over school security and rural vulnerability in southwestern Nigeria.
“No child should be taken from the safety of a classroom,” President Tinubu said. “No parent should have to endure this anguish.”
Tribute to Slain Teacher
The President also paid tribute to a local educator, Mrs Mary Oyedokun, who was killed by the gunmen during the assault on the schools.
Mrs Oyedokun was the widow of Michael Oyedokun, who had previously been beheaded by bandits operating within the region. Describing her death as a profound tragedy, the President promised that her ultimate sacrifice would not be forgotten by the state.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late teacher, Mrs Mary Oyedokun,” the President said. “Her sacrifice will not be forgotten, and her family will not be abandoned.”
‘Kinetic and Non-Kinetic’ Rescue Strategy
The presidential address follows the dispatch of a high-level federal delegation to the affected communities to assess the crisis firsthand.
The top-tier team sent to Oyo State included the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, and the Inspector-General of Police.
President Tinubu assured the public that security forces are working around the clock, utilizing a mixture of direct military pressure and backdoor intelligence channels to track down the armed gang.
“Our rescue efforts will be intelligence-led, careful, coordinated, and sustained,” the President explained. “We will deploy every lawful tool available, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to ensure our children and teachers are safely returned home.”
Forest Guards Mobilised to Track Bandits
To prevent the abductors from slipping further into the dense bush, the federal government has rolled out a series of immediate tactical deployments in direct partnership with the Oyo State government:
- Specialised Deployment: A highly trained security unit equipped with advanced tracking and rescue capabilities has been inserted into the local government area.
- Forest Surveillance: Authorities have mobilised 1,000 forest guards to actively patrol and monitor the dense woodland corridors routinely used by armed syndicates to move hostages across state lines.
- New Military Base: The presidency confirmed that a formal request from local community leaders to establish a permanent military base in the affected axis is currently receiving “urgent consideration”.
The mass kidnappings in Esiele and Yawota have once again put the spotlight on Nigeria’s persistent challenges with rural insecurity. While the families of the hostages face an agonizing wait, federal authorities insist that the ongoing forest operations will remain active until every pupil and teacher is safely recovered.
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