President Bola Tinubu has approved the urgent recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State and deployed a specialised rescue unit to free abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
The move came Sunday, May 31, 2026, when a high-powered federal delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila visited Esiele and Yawota communities. The delegation included NSA Nuhu Ribadu, IGP Tunji Disu, Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa, and Sunday Dare. Gbajabiamila assured residents the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated.
The intervention is coming 16 days after gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery & Primary School, and L.A. Primary School on May 15, kidnapping dozens of students and teachers. A mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded during the attack, while a motorcyclist and security operative were also killed.
As the rescue efforts intensify, the Nigeria Union of Teachers has declared an indefinite strike across all public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State starting Monday, June 1, 2026. NUT President Audu Amba said teachers will remain home until all abducted colleagues and learners are released. The union also ordered nationwide solidarity rallies for June 2 to demand safer schools.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who visited families on Saturday, urged communities not to trade blame but to unite for the victims’ safe return. He said security meetings are being held twice daily with Amotekun and other agencies.
Traditional rulers including the Soun of Ogbomosoland and Olugbon of Orile-Igbon have called for a military base in Oriire, citing the vast forest reserves that abductors exploit. The community also appealed for improved mobile network coverage to aid security operations.
With a 2-year-old infant among the captives and videos of distressed victims circulating, pressure is mounting on both state and federal governments to end the crisis. The forest guards, to be recruited with Oyo State Government, are expected to help secure the forest belt long used as cover by kidnappers.