Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged the United Nations (UN) and international human rights organisations to investigate the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026.
Makinde made the call while addressing residents after receiving the rescued pupils and teachers at his office in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, July 13.
The governor described the circumstances surrounding the abduction as “grave and unusual,” saying the incident raises serious concerns that require independent international scrutiny.
He stressed that a thorough investigation by global human rights bodies would help uncover the facts surrounding the incident and strengthen efforts to protect children and educational institutions from similar attacks.
How Oyo pupils survived 56 days of horror — Rescued principal
It would be recalled that some school children and teachers of Baptist Nursery/Primary School, Yawota; L. A. Primary School, Esiele and Community Grammar School, Esiele, near Ogbomoso, were abducted by armed bandits in May 2026.
The hostages were marched into the dense forest inside the Old Oyo National Park, which borders 10 local government areas of the state and Kwara, Kogi as well as Niger States.
One of the seven teachers abducted by the bandits was later killed in captivity, bringing to two the number of fatalities recorded from the incident as a motorcyclist was killed during the attack.
The abducted victims, therefore, regained freedom on July 10 after spending 56 days in kidnappers’ den.
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