Terrorists Surrounded as Rescue Mission for Oyo Pupils Intensifies

Boko Haram terrorists responsible for abducting pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are believed to have been trapped within the Oyo National Park.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Esiele. During the attacks, no fewer than 42 pupils and teachers, including a principal, were taken away.
The development comes 36 days after the abductions, with reports indicating that the terrorists have intensified efforts to frustrate rescue operations by planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and constantly changing locations within the forest.
Despite sustained pressure from troops and other security agencies deployed to the area, the terrorists have continued to resist efforts aimed at securing the release of the victims.
Reports indicate that the terrorists have demanded the release of two of their commanders—Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, popularly known as Mallam Mamuda—in exchange for the abducted pupils and teachers.
However, the government has maintained its stance against negotiating with terrorists and has vowed to secure the victims’ rescue.
Security sources disclosed that all possible exit routes from the forest have been effectively blocked by soldiers, making it difficult for the terrorists to move their captives out of the area.
It was further gathered that troops are developing strategies to flush out the terrorists, despite coming under attack on two occasions, resulting in the deaths of three security personnel.
Sources also revealed that the challenging terrain and the tactics employed by the terrorists have slowed the operation, with IEDs reportedly planted at several points within the forest.
A security source said:
“Our men are exploring professional methods to navigate the difficult areas. There have been shootouts on two occasions. The terrorists change location almost every day to evade capture.
“They know that they are being monitored and that security operatives are everywhere. So, they move their victims from one place to another. But they can’t leave the forest. They have been surrounded.”
The source further explained that the terrorists are using the abducted pupils and teachers as human shields, making direct military action more complicated.
According to the source:
“They’re using their victims as shields, and we don’t want a situation where they would begin to kill those children.
“The abductors’ tactics differed from those of other criminal groups, complicating efforts to track and intercept them. They have reinforced and are over 200 in the location where they are keeping the victims.
“A forced penetration might result in catastrophic collateral damage. If we want to penetrate, and there is an exchange of fire, it could hit the victims, or they kill the victims themselves.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has stated that it will not release details of the rescue operation beyond officially approved information.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the government is handling information carefully to avoid jeopardising the lives of the abducted teachers and pupils.