Oyo Denies Reports Of Release Of Abducted Teachers, Students

The Oyo State Government has denied viral reports circulating on social media claiming that teachers and students abducted during last Friday’s attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area had been released.

The Special Adviser on Security to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Abayomi Fagbenro, described the reports as false, insisting that the victims were still in captivity as of Thursday morning.

Gunmen had attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso in Oriire Local Government Area, killing at least two persons and abducting about 30 teachers and students.

The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and LEA Primary School, Esiele.

Reports suggesting that the victims had been released went viral on social media from Wednesday night, with conflicting claims over the authenticity of the information.

While some social media users claimed the victims had regained freedom, others dismissed the reports as fake, noting that no credible media organisation had confirmed the development.

Responding to enquiries by journalists on Thursday, Fagbenro said there had been no release of the abducted teachers and students.

“As of 10:35 am, it’s not true,” he said.

Similarly, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he was unaware of any release of the victims.

He added that security agencies were intensifying efforts to secure their release.

Following the attack, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, ordered the deployment of additional detectives from Force Headquarters in Abuja to support ongoing rescue operations.

Also reacting, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, called for a “careful, clinical and timely” operation to rescue the abducted students and teachers.

The Defence Headquarters had earlier disclosed on Tuesday that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.

Governor Seyi Makinde also assured residents that the state government and security agencies were making efforts to secure the release of those abducted.

He disclosed that seven students were abducted from Community Grammar School, while 18 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.

He added that one person was killed during the attack.