The abductors—linked to Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram responsible for severe harm and human rights violations—have held 39 pupils and seven teachers inside a vast forest for more than a month.
By Onibiyo Segun
(Oriire County, Oyo State) – After 39 days of torture at the hands of terrorists, Nigerian Army believes a rescue day for 46 people approaches, according to TruthNigeria sources.
The terrorists are believed to be a branch of Ansaru, according to the U.S. Counterterrorism Center. Ansaru was created to be a specialized kidnap-for-ransom wing of Boko Haram but separated from Boko Haram in 2012 to merge with Al-Qaeda because of Boko Haram’s cruel attacks that victimized Muslims, according to the National Counterterrorism Center. After the kidnapping on May 15 the group demanded the release of two jailed Ansaru commanders.
Using local criminal gangs as manpower, the terrorists stormed three rural school communities in Oriire county in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria on May 15, abducting 39 young pupils and seven teachers who were marched into Old Oyo National Park forest. The kidnapping continues to stretch security forces and terrify families across the Oke-Ogun–Ogbomoso region.
The schools involved are located in a deeply rural part of Oyo State, where farming settlements are located close to churches, mosques, and small roadside schools. One of them is a missionary Baptist school, adding to concerns among residents about targeting of Christians.
According to multiple reports, armed men struck simultaneously across communities in Oriire, abducting pupils and teachers before retreating into thick forest cover, according to www.legit.ng.
The attack triggered panic across nearby villages, where residents depend on farming routes that now cut through forest corridors used by armed groups.
Troops Block Escape Routes
Military operations have expanded across forest edges linking Oyo and neighboring Kwara routes, with troops increasing patrols, blocking suspected exit points, and tracking movement patterns, according to Vanguard.
Aerial surveillance and ground units are now being deployed together to prevent abductors from slipping through known forest exits.
Earlier negotiations reportedly saw ransom demands by the kidnappers fluctuate sharply as military pressure increased.
Reports also indicate that the abductors issued multiple demands, including ransom and release conditions, as pressure intensified on their forest positions, reported Pulse Nigeria.
Security sources say the group appears to be adjusting its posture under sustained pressure, focusing more on survival and negotiation than ideological messaging.
The Nigerian Air Force and ground troops continue coordinated surveillance operations across suspected movement zones inside and around the Old Oyo National Park axis.
Security planners say the strategy is focused on mapping movement patterns rather than chasing fixed positions, as armed groups constantly relocate within forest terrain.
Confusion over Claims
Confusion spread in nearby communities after social media reports suggested abducted victims had been released.
Local officials dismissed the claims, confirming that no verified rescue had taken place and that operations were still ongoing.
Security analysts say the crisis reflects a broader pattern of rural kidnappers exploiting weak coordination and difficult terrain across state boundaries.
Experts warn that such groups rely heavily on forests for concealment and adapt quickly when military pressure increases.
The abducted pupils and teachers have now spent 39 days in captivity, as military pressure intensifies across forest zones, and negotiators attempt to track shifting demands.
For families in Oriire, the situation remains simple: children are still missing, and armed groups still hold them inside forest corridors.
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflict for TruthNigeria.
