Abayomi Fagbenro dismisses Oyo school abduction rumours, confirming no release of kidnapped students and teachers despite viral social media posts

Abayomi Fagbenro, Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, dismissed viral claims that abducted teachers and students from schools in Oriire Local Government Area had been released, describing the reports as false amid ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.

Also read: Outrage as abducted Oyo teacher reportedly killed

The clarification came after widespread circulation of unverified social media posts suggesting that victims kidnapped during last Friday’s coordinated attack on three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso had regained freedom.

The incident had earlier left at least two people dead and about 30 pupils, students and teachers abducted, triggering national concern.

Fagbenro stated categorically that there had been no release of the victims as of Thursday morning, stressing that the situation remained unchanged.

“As of 10:35 am, it’s not true,” he said, directly countering the growing wave of misinformation surrounding the case.

The Oyo school abduction rumours intensified overnight on Wednesday, with conflicting posts circulating online.

While some users claimed the abductees had been freed, others dismissed the claims, pointing to the absence of confirmation from official security agencies or mainstream media outlets.

Olayinka Ayanlade, Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, also confirmed that the police were not aware of any such release, noting that coordinated rescue operations were still underway.

Authorities have continued to intensify search-and-rescue efforts in collaboration with other security agencies.

In response to the incident, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu deployed additional detectives from Force Headquarters in Abuja to strengthen field operations.

The move, described by officials as part of a “reinforced security response,” aims to accelerate the safe return of the abducted victims.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas also urged a “careful, clinical and timely” operation to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for precision in rescue efforts.

The Defence Headquarters confirmed earlier that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working towards securing the release of the victims, while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde reiterated that efforts were ongoing at both state and federal levels.

The attack, which targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and LEA Primary School in Esiele, involved gunmen who abducted pupils, students and teachers in a coordinated raid that shocked the local communities.

Also read: Oyo Police arrest 3 suspected kidnappers in Ido rescue case

Governor Makinde previously disclosed that seven students were taken from Community Grammar School, while 18 children and seven teachers were abducted from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School, adding that one person was killed during the assault.