DIG Promises Rescue Of Oyo School Children Soon, Says Efforts Focus On Rescue, Not Ransom

June 23, 2026 – Ibadan, Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force has assured that efforts to secure the release of school children and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, are ongoing, even as plans are underway to recruit 40,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.

South-West DIG Adegoke Fayoade assured during a visit to Lagos that security agencies are working to secure the release of the Oyo schoolchildren "within the shortest possible time" and said efforts focus on rescue, not ransom.

Security agencies are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted schoolchildren. We are doing everything possible to ensure they are rescued unharmed, Fayoade said.

The DIG noted that the police have deployed additional resources to the area and are working closely with other security agencies to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims.

Recall that armed men, in May 2026, abducted 39 students and seven teachers during attacks on several schools in Oyo State. One teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the abductors.

The abduction has sparked widespread outrage and protests, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) embarking on an indefinite strike in Oyo State.

Parents of the abducted children have expressed frustration over the delay in rescuing their children. One parent, Mrs. Funke Adebayo, said: It has been over a month since our children were taken. We are tired of waiting. We want our children back.

Fayoade also disclosed that the police are planning to recruit 40,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security. "This is part of efforts to address the manpower shortages in the force," he said.

The abduction of the Oyo schoolchildren has become a symbol of the government's failure to protect citizens. The DIG's assurance of an imminent rescue offers hope to the families, but the government must deliver on its promise.

The recruitment of additional police personnel is a positive step, but it must be accompanied by improved training, equipment, and welfare. Without these, the police will continue to struggle to address Nigeria's security challenges.