Crime
Oyo abduction: Teachers begin strike as Tinubu sends 1,000 forest guards to rescue victims
He also directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free abducted pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
This is as the Nigeria Union of Teachers declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State and announced plans for nationwide solidarity rallies to press the government for the rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers.
According to a statement signed Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a high-powered Federal Government delegation conveyed the presidential directives to community leaders and lawmakers during a visit to Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire LGA on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The delegation also informed leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area had been transmitted to the President for consideration and approval.
The development comes 16 days after gunmen struck communities in the area and took dozens of schoolchildren and their teachers captive.
The delegation was led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu; Defence Minister General Christopher Musa (retd); and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, Onanuga said.
Addressing residents in both English and Yoruba, Gbajabiamila said the President’s decision to dispatch the nation’s top security leadership to the affected communities reflected his determination to deploy every available resource to secure the victims’ release.
“Mr President is deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely.
“He has issued all necessary directives and is providing every support required by our security agencies to achieve that objective,” Gbajabiamila said.
He also addressed the appeals from parents and community members urging caution in the rescue operation.
The Chief of Staff explained, “Mr President also saw the appeals from some parents and community members urging caution in the rescue efforts.
“Let me assure you that the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims.
“Your pain and anxiety are understood. By the grace of God, your children will return safely to your arms.”
The delegation also called on the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, at his palace to commiserate with the traditional ruler and his people.
They also held separate visits to the widow of the slain teacher, Mrs Mary Oyedokun, and her two children where Gbajabiamila delivered the President’s personal condolences to the family and promised that they would not be left to suffer.
The 1,000 forest guards approved by the President will be recruited in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, Onanuga revealed.
The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, taking pupils and teachers captive.
During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist was also killed, and a security personnel died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts.
The Oriire LGA communities sit on the fringes of a forested belt that the abductors have exploited for cover since the attack.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser, Ribadu, said no stone would be left unturned.
“We share in your pains and agonies. The perpetrators of this dastardly act are evil.
“The kidnapping of a two-year-old infant is nothing but evil.
“The Federal Government will ensure that an end is brought to this inglorious act nationwide,” he said.
Defence Minister Musa echoed the President’s commitment on the forest guards and called on local communities to collaborate actively with security forces.
Musa said, “Like the Chief of Staff said, President Tinubu has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 forest rangers in Oyo. Other security requests by the people will be looked into.”
The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, who earlier spoke on behalf of the community, linked the recurring abductions to the expansive forest reserves that armed groups continue to exploit as cover.
“The kidnappers are taking advantage of the vast forest reserve in the area to perpetrate evil. We need a military base in Oriire.
“Also, the government must do something about the mobile network service in the area,” the monarch said.
A two-year-old infant and a school principal are among the confirmed captives from the abductions.
Days after the attack, videos later emerged showing the abducted school principal and a teacher making emotional appeals to President Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde and Nigerians to help secure their release, with the captives indicating they were being held in harsh conditions and exposed to extreme weather.
On Saturday, Makinde had visited Ahoro Esiele and met with families of the victims at L.A. Basic School.
He appealed for understanding and urged communities not to trade blame between the state and federal governments.
Makinde told the gathering, “Don’t cry. I have come here because of you. You installed this government. I want to let you know that this government is responsible to you.
“By the grace of God and your cooperation, we will bring back our children and the teachers.
“This is not the time to start trading blame on who should be responsible for the release of these children between the state and federal government. This is just the time to come together to rescue our children and their teachers. I feel your pain, but have trust in us.”
The Governor said he had been holding security meetings twice daily since the abduction occurred and was working closely with security agencies to facilitate the victims’ safe return.
He commended the Western Security Network, Amotekun, whose operatives had lost lives in combating security challenges across the state.
Husband of the abducted school principal, Professor Wole Alamu, had also made appeals directly to Makinde as well as Mrs Funmilayo Ojo, whose daughter-in-law and four grandchildren are among the captives.
Mr Aliu Saidi, a relative of one of the victims, pleaded for the government to do everything possible to secure the return of their loved ones.
NUT declares strike
In a similar development, the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Sunday declared an indefinite strike of all primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State beginning Monday (today), June 1, 2026, citing the failure to secure the victims’ release despite repeated appeals.
The NUT directed teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state to withdraw their services from today over the continued abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state.
In a circular jointly signed by NUT National President Audu Amba and Secretary-General Dr Clinton J. Ikpitibo, the union expressed deep concern over the “horrifying, inhumane and traumatic conditions” being endured by the victims in captivity.
“The National Leadership has directed all Primary and Secondary School teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services from Monday, 1st June, 2026, until the abducted teachers and students are safely released,” the statement read.
The union said it was particularly disturbed by reports of killings among the captives, as well as the emotional video appeals made by the school principal and a teacher from inside their captors’ den.
It said the prolonged captivity, with no clear indication of imminent rescue, left it with no choice but to act.
The union further directed all its state chapters nationwide to organise solidarity rallies on Tuesday, June 2, terminating at various Government Houses across the country, where state leaderships of the NUT would address journalists on the need for improved protection of schools, teachers and learners.
The NUT pledged to continue pursuing all lawful means to secure the release of the victims and renewed its call on the Federal Government, Oyo State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of all captives.
Gunmen have abducted the All Progressives Congress Chairman of Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Fanka, killing two people during the attack.
The incident occurred around 11pm on Monday when the gunmen invaded the community and opened sporadic gunfire, forcing residents to flee their homes.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two victims were killed while attempting to prevent the gunmen from abducting Fanka.
“The two people killed couldn’t stop them from whisking away the party chairman because they were in possession of sophisticated weapons,” the resident said.
The latest incident occurred barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked Rantan community in Bebeji Local Government Area, killing the APC Chairman of Rantan Ward, Alhaji Garba Buba, and another resident identified as Sulaiman Zunduma.
The Kano State Police Command has launched an investigation into the Rantan attack and commenced efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
The attacks followed another incident in Chiromawa community in Garun Mallam Local Government Area, where suspected bandits abducted the Sarkin Noman Kano, Alhaji Yusif Nadabo, on Saturday night.
Nadabo was later rescued by the police following a joint response by security operatives and residents. Three residents were reportedly injured during the operation.
The three incidents occurred in neighbouring parts of Kano State within about 72 hours, heightening concerns over the spread of kidnapping and armed attacks across the state.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, had on Monday announced that the Federal Government was developing a five-year defence and security plan in response to recent security challenges, including the attacks in Kano.
As of the time of filing the report, attempts to obtain an update from the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful. Calls to his telephone were unanswered, while a WhatsApp message sent to him had not received a response.
The Nigerian military has confirmed the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Kogi State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday while giving an update on military operations across the country.
Onoja said the victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in the 2 Division area of operation.
He said 15 of the rescued victims were NYSC members who were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
The director said the military had also sustained operations against terrorists and criminal elements, particularly in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, following recent abductions in the area.
He said troops were collaborating with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and identification of areas requiring security intervention.
Onoja cited the rescue of 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, from Kainji Lake National Park on Aug. 5 as evidence of the security forces’ capacity to locate and rescue victims.
He assured residents of Borgu and neighbouring communities that military operations would continue until threats posed by terrorists and criminals were sufficiently degraded.
The general urged families of abducted persons to remain calm and avoid actions that could compromise ongoing rescue operations, stressing that credible information remained vital to the efforts of the security agencies.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, remained committed to rescuing abducted persons, protecting civilians and facilitating the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
Giving an account of military operations in August, Onoja said troops neutralised more than 332 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 others and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He added that 201 terrorists surrendered to the troops, while 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition were recovered during the month.
The military, according to him, also recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites as part of efforts to tackle oil theft and economic sabotage.
Onoja attributed the operational gains to intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations, improved intelligence gathering and enhanced collaboration among security agencies.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that more than 40 personnel of the commission have been dismissed over alleged corruption and financial misconduct in the last three years.
Olukoyede made the disclosure in Abuja during a media interaction to mark his third year in office as EFCC chairman.
He also revealed that about five other officials were currently facing prosecution for alleged corrupt practices, while case files involving some others were being prepared for prosecution.
According to him, the disciplinary measures were part of efforts to ensure that EFCC personnel are held to the same accountability standards the commission applies to members of the public investigated for financial crimes.
Olukoyede stressed that officers fighting corruption must maintain personal integrity and remain above reproach.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.
Three persons were reportedly shot dead in separate incidents in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Sunday, in attacks suspected to have been carried out by cultists.
The first incident occurred in the densely populated Amaenyi area of Awka, where two men were reportedly shot dead.
The attack triggered panic and a stampede, during which several people were said to have sustained injuries.
The second incident occurred on SM Okeke Street, where a popular comedian and town crier in Awka, Mr Aiza Nwosu, was shot dead by suspected cultists.
Sources said Nwosu was allegedly monitored and trailed by his assailants from his residence before they attacked him.
Nwosu was well known in Awka as a comedian and town crier. He usually carried out his duties with a Hilux truck fitted with loudspeakers, driving around the city while playing loud music and making public announcements.
According to reports by Daily Post, Nwosu was driving along SM Okeke Street with his music blaring when the assailants, who were reportedly trailing him in a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, opened fire on him.
He reportedly died inside his vehicle while the music continued to play. The vehicle subsequently veered off the road and landed in a ditch, suggesting that he may have been caught completely unaware by the attack.
While residents who knew Nwosu described him as having no history of cult membership, some sources alleged that his son was a known member of the Vikings Confraternity.
Awka has for years been associated with violent clashes involving rival cult groups, with several lives reportedly lost in such confrontations.
The latest incidents have raised fears of a possible resurgence of cult-related violence in the city.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the killings.
Residents have called for increased security surveillance and swift investigation to prevent further violence and identify those responsible for the attacks.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra Joint Task Force on Security has arrested nine suspected gunmen and recovered two vehicles, three firearms and other items during a stop-and-search operation in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The suspects, comprising seven males and two females, were arrested in the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2026, when security operatives intercepted two vehicles at a checkpoint in the community.
The operation was led by the Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Austin Elaigwu, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service and operatives of the Agunechemba Security Outfit.
The vehicles, a custom-coloured Toyota Sienna and an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4, were subjected to a thorough search following their interception.
Security operatives subsequently recovered three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action gun, charms and other items considered relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The suspects and the recovered items were immediately taken into custody for questioning and further investigation.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly claimed to be security operatives based in a neighbouring state.
However, they allegedly failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their identities, affiliations, possession of the firearms and the purpose of their movement into Anambra State.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, commended the operatives for the successful operation.
He urged them to remain vigilant, noting that the recovery was the result of intelligence-led policing and effective stop-and-search operations.
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