Nearly eight weeks after armed men stormed three schools in Oyo State, the 39 pupils and seven teachers remain in captivity, with the abductors now threatening to execute them if security forces attempt a rescue . Defence Minister Christopher Musa disclosed that intelligence reports confirm the kidnappers are using the children as human shields to pressure the military into releasing their commanders currently in custody .
The gunmen, who attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and two other schools in Esinle, Oriire Local Government Area, on May 15, killed an assistant headmaster during the operation and transported the victims to a hideout within the vast Old Oyo National Park . The abductors, linked to the Ansaru extremist faction, initially demanded the release of senior commanders Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, alongside ransom payments and other conditions .
However, security sources report a major intelligence breakthrough by the Department of State Services has exposed key members of the kidnapping network and weakened their support structure, leaving the captors increasingly apprehensive . The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has expressed confidence that troops are making steady progress towards securing the captives’ release .
Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed the state government is engaged in direct talks with the terrorists, describing the negotiations as an extraordinary measure to protect the lives of the young captives . "In this special situation, if we want those children alive, we have to bend backwards," Makinde stated, while assuring residents that Oyo State would not suffer the same fate as the Chibok abduction . The Oyo State Police Command continues to urge the public to disregard false reports of rescue, emphasizing that intensive operations remain ongoing . Schools in the affected areas remain closed as families endure weeks of agonizing uncertainty, with one grieving father lamenting, "We are told to be patient. But patience has become pain" .
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