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By Abu Dalisu l May 29, 2026
Emotions ran high in parts of Oyo State on Thursday as grieving mothers and family members publicly appealed to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to urgently rescue schoolchildren and teachers abducted by gunmen from communities in the state.
The distressed women, many of them in tears, lamented the worsening insecurity in their communities, saying the prolonged captivity of the victims had thrown families into trauma, fear and uncertainty.
The abductions, which reportedly involved pupils, teachers and school officials, have continued to spark outrage across Nigeria, with fresh videos and emotional appeals from relatives circulating widely on social media.
In several of the videos, mothers of the kidnapped victims were seen crying and pleading with the Federal Government to intensify rescue operations before the situation deteriorates further.
Some relatives accused authorities of not acting swiftly enough despite growing public concern over the safety of the abducted victims.
The latest appeals followed earlier reports that abducted teachers and school officials in Oyo State had released distress messages from captivity, begging the government to intervene and secure their freedom.
Civil society organisations and education advocacy groups have also joined calls for urgent action, warning that repeated attacks on schools could further destabilise Nigeria’s already struggling education sector.
The Save Public Education Campaign recently demanded the immediate rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the incident as a dangerous threat to children’s right to education.
Similarly, the Early Childhood and Basic Education Instructors in Nigeria (ECBEIN) urged President Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies to treat the abductions as a national emergency requiring coordinated rescue efforts.
ECBEIN President, Dr. Sunday Fowowe, warned that continued attacks on schools were creating fear among students, parents and teachers, while undermining confidence in Nigeria’s education system.
“This tragedy is not an isolated incident,” he said, adding that schools should remain places of learning and hope rather than fear and insecurity.
The growing insecurity in schools has revived painful memories of previous mass abductions across Nigeria, including the Chibok and Kuriga school kidnappings that attracted international condemnation.
Although security agencies have reportedly intensified operations in parts of Oyo State, families of the abducted victims say they remain anxious and frustrated over the lack of visible progress in securing the release of their loved ones.
As public pressure mounts, many Nigerians are demanding stronger security measures around schools and rural communities to prevent further attacks on vulnerable students and teachers.