There are strong indications that the 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota, and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State may soon regain their freedom as security operatives intensify rescue efforts.
Troops have reportedly sealed off all possible escape routes leading to the National Park where the victims are believed to be held. The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when terrorists attacked three schools in the area and kidnapped 46 people.
Security sources said operatives have now surrounded a suspected hideout within the forest and effectively contained the terrorists, restricting their movement with the hostages. Facing increasing pressure and the risk of capture, the kidnappers are said to have resorted to desperate measures, including the killing of one of the abducted teachers in an apparent attempt to intimidate authorities and disrupt the operation.
Initially, the terrorists reportedly made four key demands: the release of detained commanders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles, and the introduction of Sharia-related laws.
Those named for release include Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar) and his deputy Abubakar Abba (also called Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri), both alleged senior members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a breakaway Boko Haram faction currently in DSS custody.
However, as security pressure intensified, sources said the group has since scaled down its demands and is now mainly focused on securing ransom payment. The gang leader is also reported to be an indigene of Oriire who was once a resident before allegedly becoming radicalised by Ansaru ideology.
The affected communities are located near the Nigeria–Niger border corridor toward the Kainji axis, an area characterised by difficult terrain and poor communication coverage. Intelligence reports had earlier warned of planned attacks in the region, prompting preventive measures, including temporary school closures.
Security agencies also believe sustained nationwide operations against terrorist groups have pushed insurgents out of traditional strongholds, forcing them to target vulnerable rural communities instead. Recent operations against Ansaru, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly yielded significant gains, including the neutralisation of about 168 high-profile commanders and the arrest of several others, while many fighters are believed to have fled into neighbouring countries.
A senior security official expressed confidence in the ongoing campaign, saying the fight against terrorism would be won and operations would continue until the criminals are neutralised or expelled from the country.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has dismissed claims linking Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho to the reported rescue of kidnapped victims in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area.
Following viral videos suggesting the release of abducted residents—including a pregnant woman, her children, and a sibling—the police said there was no official confirmation of any rescue and no evidence connecting Igboho to such an operation.
The abduction, which involved a midnight attack, had triggered public outrage, with gunmen initially demanding N300 million before allegedly reducing it to N150 million during negotiations. Igboho had earlier issued a warning to criminal elements operating in the area, vowing to confront them if the victims were not freed.
However, the police spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, reiterated that the command had not confirmed any rescue linked to Igboho, describing such reports as unverified and urging the public to rely only on official information channels.
