May 31 (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and deployed a specialised rescue team to Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as part of an intensified federal response to the abduction of 46 pupils and teachers who have been in captivity for more than two weeks after gunmen attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The intervention was announced on Sunday during a high-powered federal government visit to the affected Esiele and Yawota communities, where senior security and government officials conveyed the President’s determination to secure the release of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
THEWILL reports that the victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in a coordinated operation that sent shockwaves across Oyo State and beyond.
Leading the presidential delegation was the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Other members included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.
Addressing anxious residents, traditional leaders, parents and community stakeholders in both English and Yoruba languages, Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu was deeply disturbed by the mass abduction and had directed the nation’s security architecture to deploy all necessary resources towards rescuing the victims.
According to him, the presence of the country’s top security chiefs in the affected communities underscored the seriousness with which the Federal Government was treating the incident.
“Mr President is deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely. He has issued all necessary directives and is providing every support required by our security agencies to achieve that objective”, Gbajabiamila said.
He disclosed that a specialised rescue team had already been deployed to track the kidnappers and coordinate efforts aimed at securing the safe return of the victims.
Responding to concerns expressed by parents and community leaders over the safety of the hostages, the Chief of Staff assured residents that security agencies would pursue a carefully coordinated operation designed to minimise risks to those in captivity.
He explained that the rescue effort would be intelligence-driven and would combine both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to ensure a successful outcome without unnecessary casualties.
As part of measures to prevent future attacks, the Federal Government also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government.
The initiative is expected to strengthen security surveillance across forest corridors and remote areas frequently exploited by criminal groups as operational bases and hideouts.
The announcement followed repeated complaints by residents and local leaders who described the vast forests around the affected communities as vulnerable zones that have increasingly become safe havens for kidnappers and bandits.
Community leaders and elected representatives also used the opportunity to renew calls for the establishment of a permanent military formation in the area.
In response, members of the delegation promised to formally convey the request to President Tinubu for consideration.
The delegation later paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, where they commiserated with the monarch and the people of the kingdom over the security breach and the trauma inflicted on affected families.
The presidential team also visited Mrs Mary Oyedokun, widow of Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers who was later killed by the kidnappers.
The killing of the teacher, captured in a disturbing video circulated by the criminals, sparked nationwide outrage and heightened fears over the safety of the remaining captives.
While condoling with the bereaved family, Gbajabiamila conveyed President Tinubu’s personal sympathies and assured the widow and her two children that the Federal Government would provide support and ensure they were not abandoned in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The visit comes amid growing public pressure on both the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, whose continued captivity has generated widespread concern across the country.
Public anxiety intensified on Sunday after a viral video showed the husband of the kidnapped principal, Mrs Rachael Alamu, breaking down in tears while appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to intensify rescue efforts and secure the release of his wife and the other victims.
More than 16 days after the attack, the whereabouts of the abducted pupils and teachers remain unknown, leaving families trapped between hope and uncertainty as security agencies race to secure their freedom.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
