Nearly 50 days after the abduction of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, concerns continue to grow as the victims remain in captivity with no official announcement of their rescue.
The abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, has sparked renewed calls for intensified rescue efforts from both the Oyo State Government and federal security agencies.
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has alleged that the Oyo State Government paid a ransom to secure the release of the victims but claimed the abductors failed to release them after receiving the money.
The allegation has not been independently verified, and the Oyo State Government has not publicly confirmed or denied the claim.
VDM also criticised what he described as the slow pace of rescue efforts, recalling that Governor Seyi Makinde had assured residents during a protest on June 17 that everything possible would be done to secure the victims’ freedom.
He further alleged that security agencies have shifted attention away from the rescue operation, although no official statement has been issued to support that claim.
The continued captivity of the pupils and teachers has heightened anxiety among their families and residents, with many Nigerians renewing calls for the authorities to intensify search and rescue operations and provide regular updates on efforts to secure their release.
The Oyo State Government and security agencies have maintained that efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing, but as of the time of filing this report, the abducted schoolchildren and teachers had yet to regain their freedom.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing challenge of kidnapping in parts of Nigeria, where attacks on schools and communities continue to pose significant security concerns despite ongoing military and law enforcement operations.
Editor’s Note: Claims that a ransom was paid remain unverified. Neither the Oyo State Government nor relevant security agencies has officially confirmed that any ransom payment was made or that abductors refused to release the victims after receiving payment.
