Families of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area have rejected offers of rice and cash support, insisting instead on the safe return of their loved ones nearly three weeks after a violent mass kidnapping that has shaken communities and intensified concerns over insecurity in southwestern Nigeria.
On May 15, armed men on motorcycles stormed three schools in Oriire LGA, abducting at least 39 pupils and seven teachers in a coordinated attack that also left one local resident dead. The incident triggered immediate panic across surrounding communities and forced the temporary closure of several schools in the area.
Since the attack, security agencies have launched a large-scale manhunt across forested regions believed to be used as hideouts by the kidnappers. Governor Seyi Makinde has repeatedly assured residents that operations have been intensified, while federal authorities have stepped in to support local efforts.
President Bola Tinubu dispatched a federal security coordination team to Oyo State in the days following the abduction. The team later approved the recruitment and deployment of 1,000 new forest rangers aimed at strengthening surveillance in vulnerable rural areas where armed groups often operate undetected.
Despite these interventions, no official breakthrough has been recorded as of June 2, and none of the abducted victims have been released.
In several affected communities, tension is rising. Families of the victims have staged repeated protests, blocking key roads and demanding urgent government action. Many say they are frustrated by what they describe as slow progress in rescue efforts, even as security forces maintain that intelligence-driven operations are ongoing.
Some parents have also rejected relief packages, including food items and financial assistance, saying such gestures do not address their immediate concern. “We don’t want rice or money. We want our children back,” one grieving parent told local reporters during a protest in Oriire, capturing the growing anger and desperation among families.
Security analysts say the incident reflects a broader pattern of rural school attacks in parts of Nigeria where armed groups exploit weak surveillance in forested terrain. Oyo State authorities have since increased patrols and restricted movement in some high-risk zones, but communities remain on edge.
Education has also been disrupted. Several schools in Oriire LGA and nearby areas remain closed indefinitely, with parents reluctant to send children back until safety is guaranteed. Teachers’ unions have also called for stronger protection measures before academic activities resume.
As pressure mounts on both state and federal authorities, attention is now focused on whether ongoing security operations will lead to a breakthrough in the coming days. For families still waiting, however, each passing day deepens uncertainty and fear.
For now, the abducted pupils and teachers remain missing, and the demand from their families is unchanged: safe return, not compensation.