Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area are still being held within the Old Oyo National Park area, nearly four weeks after their abduction.

Makinde made the disclosure while giving an update on ongoing rescue operations, noting that intelligence reports indicate the victims remain within the vast forest corridor, which has made search efforts more difficult for security agencies.

The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed attackers invaded schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esinle communities of Oriire LGA, abducting several pupils and teachers. One teacher was reportedly killed during the attack.

According to the governor, the Old Oyo National Park terrain spanning thousands of square kilometres across multiple local government areas has complicated rescue operations due to its dense vegetation and difficult access routes.

He assured residents that security agencies are intensifying efforts through coordinated operations and intelligence-led tracking to secure the safe release of the victims.

Makinde also urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of security agencies, while discouraging the spread of unverified information that could disrupt ongoing rescue efforts.

Authorities say operations are ongoing, with priority placed on locating and safely recovering the abducted pupils and teachers. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.