What began as an ordinary school day on May 15, 2026, quickly turned into horror as armed men invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and Community Grammar School/L.A. Primary School, Esiele, killing an assistant headmaster, Mr. Adesiyan, and abducting teachers and pupils into nearby forest corridors.
Among the victims was mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, whose killing in captivity , later confirmed by Governor Seyi Makinde , sparked nationwide outrage after graphic footage of his beheading circulated online.
Even as families continue to search for missing relatives, fear has deepened following a fresh abduction involving an a woman and her twin boy, reportedly linked to the family of a former Minister of Power, raising concerns that armed groups are tightening their grip on rural communities through repeated strikes and forest escape routes.
A farmer, Micheal Ojo, whose four children, daughter-in-law and infant grandchild were among those abducted, said the attack changed his life forever.
“I wish I had never told them to go to school that morning. ” He said, recalling how gunmen marched victims into the forest.
Community leaders say the attackers operate with familiarity of the terrain. Akinlade Adekola alleged that the criminals blend into society before striking.
“They live among us… they are the okada riders and guards, waiting for instructions from their unit commanders,” he said.
The killings and abductions have triggered outrage across the state. Teachers in Ogbomoso staged a protest, carrying placards such as “Their deaths demand action” and “Nigeria has a security crisis, today, not tomorrow.”
One protester, Oluwadare Akanbi, said: “Teachers are still in captivity. A man was beheaded for going to work.”
In captivity, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs. Alamu F.O., was seen pleading for help in a viral video alongside frightened pupils and a nursing mother abducted with her infant child.
“We have been here since Friday. Please help us. We need help. Tinubu, please help us. Our governor, Seyi Makinde, please help us. The children are here crying,” she said.
Public affairs analyst, Oladele Ogunsola, said the attack exposed long-standing security gaps in the Oriire axis, noting that warnings about suspicious movements around Old Oyo National Park were raised years earlier but not fully acted upon. He also called for urgent regional coordination among South-West states.
Another community leader, Pa Samuel Olawoyin of Ogbomoso, described the killings as a moral collapse.
“This is no longer just insecurity. It is organised cruelty,” he said.
Governor Seyi Makinde, confirming the scale of the attack, said seven teachers and 57 pupils were affected across the two schools, with one teacher killed. He assured that rescue operations were ongoing and urged restraint in public commentary.
“The operation is still ongoing. I will therefore appeal for responsible reporting,” the governor said.
He added that security agencies were working to ensure the safe return of abductees, while forensic analysis of videos linked to the attack was underway by the police command.
The governor also reiterated that the state would not surrender to criminal elements, adding that negotiations, where necessary, would still prioritise the safe release of the victims.
He said:, “Now, we are able to conclusively confirm that at the Community Secondary School, seven students were abducted, while at the First Baptist Primary and Nursery School, 18 children were abducted. In total, seven teachers were involved. Unfortunately, as I reported yesterday, one of them was killed.
The operation is still ongoing. It remains a very fluid and difficult situation for troops on the ground. I will therefore appeal for responsible reporting of the situation. This is not something to be sensationalised; it involves human lives. If you are unclear about anything, you can ask, and we will gladly provide information,” he said.
On the surveillance aircraft procured by the state government, Makinde said the aircraft had arrived in the country and was currently being reassembled at the Nigeria Air Force hangar in Lagos by the manufacturers, who had arrived a few days earlier.
Governor Makinde appealed for patience from residents and affected families, stressing that security operations were still ongoing to secure the safe return of the abducted teachers and pupils in Oriire local government area.
He explained that the state was working closely with the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies, noting that real-time intelligence and aerial surveillance were already guiding rescue efforts. According to him, the deployment of surveillance platforms, including support from the Air Force’s Diamond-42 aircraft while the state’s own aircraft are being assembled, had significantly improved situational awareness in the operation, adding that “we must remain patient and cooperate with security agencies to achieve a successful rescue.”
In his response, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar A. Suleh conveyed the apology of the Chief of Air Staff, who was engaged on other national duties, and reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s full operational commitment to the rescue mission. He expressed sympathy with the Oyo State Government and families of the abducted victims, describing kidnapping as a growing national security concern requiring sustained collaboration among security agencies.
Suleh assured that the Air Force would continue to provide full operational support, including aerial reconnaissance and tactical assistance, to ensure the victims are safely rescued and perpetrators brought to justice.
An angry youth gave his name only as Tope Babatunde told our Correspondent that , “The gory details emerging from videos circulating online have further deepened national outrage over the Orire attacks, showing abducted schoolchildren forced to sleep in the forest, flogged with visible scars that observers fear could be exposed to tetanus infection.
Babatunde who was, visibly shaken, said that the unfolding violence has left him questioning the very essence of humanity . “I am so broken. I begin to ask myself where the human conscience has gone. My late father used to tell me that in those days, even in war, women and children were spared. So what went wrong? Why this peril on innocent children?” he asked, reflecting a growing sense of anguish and disbelief over the repeated attacks on vulnerable communities
A community leaders, Baba Adekunle Ibokunle, said,” Since the day I watched a disturbing footage, where abductors were reportedly seen melting rubber on the bodies of some of the victims, I regretted being a Nigerian. What is their crime? Why these innocent blood , he questioned?
LEADERSHIP Weekend writes that , this ugly development has further intensified public anger and renewed calls for decisive action against armed groups operating in forest corridors across the South-West.
The brutality has since triggered solidarity protests by teachers across several states, while the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has directed members to withdraw their services indefinitely until further notice, citing safety concerns and the need for urgent government intervention.
Meanwhile, what many had hoped would remain an isolated tragedy has instead been followed by fresh anxiety, as reports of another kidnapping incident in the state and even in a neighbouring state, have further reinforced fears that insecurity is spreading through adjoining communities and forest routes despite repeated assurances from authorities.
A civil servant in the state, Mrs Olúwatósin Seun, lamented the growing wave of violence, saying: “It is painful that our children are no longer safe even in schools. Every day now feels like a tragedy waiting to happen. Government must rise beyond promises and protect lives before we lose more innocent people.”
Another respondent , a young resident, who gave her name as Kafayat Adeyemi, said the worsening insecurity has pushed her into fear-driven decisions, including keeping her siblings away from school.
Her words, “Honestly, I don’t know how much more I can take. Every week it is one sad story or the other. Children kidnapped, teachers killed, families destroyed. I had to stop my younger siblings from going to school because I’m scared for their lives. I was already planning to leave Nigeria, but now it feels like I have no reason to stay back anymore,” she said, adding that the climate of fear has made daily life increasingly unbearable.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police public relations officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said joint security operations had been intensified across forest corridors believed to be used by the attackers, stressing that efforts were ongoing to rescue victims unharmed and apprehend perpetrators.
As Orire continues to mourn, the fear is no longer just about one attack, but a pattern of violence that is forcing rural communities to question whether schools and daily life can still be considered safe.
