Tinubu Vows Action Over Oyo School Abduction, Says ‘No Parent Should Endure This Anguish’

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sympathy with families affected by the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State, assuring Nigerians that efforts are being intensified to secure the victims’ release as concerns over school safety continue to grow.

Reacting to the attack, Tinubu said the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to rescue the victims and restore confidence in the safety of schools across the country. He stressed that children should never be taken from classrooms, while expressing solidarity with families facing uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

As part of ongoing rescue operations, the President approved the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities and also announced the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government. The move followed visits by a federal delegation to affected communities in Esiele and Yawota.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15 after gunmen attacked schools in the Oriire area, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in educational institutions. The crisis has disrupted academic activities, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declaring an indefinite strike in Oyo State while demanding the safe return of the abducted teachers and pupils.

The incident has also triggered public protests and appeals from community leaders, parents, and civil society groups calling on authorities to take stronger measures against school-related kidnappings. Tinubu had earlier assured the victims and their families that they had not been forgotten and pledged continued efforts to bring them home safely.

As pressure mounts on security agencies, many Nigerians are closely watching rescue efforts, with hopes that the victims will be released and confidence restored in the nation’s education system.