Gunmen Hold 46 Oyo School Captives as Video Shows Head Teacher Pleading for Release
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Gunmen Hold 46 Oyo School Captives as Video Shows Head Teacher Pleading for Release
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Summary
A video released last week showed head teacher Alamu Folawe on her knees in captivity, urging Oyo authorities and teachers’ unions to negotiate the release of 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted on 15 May.
Armed men in military camouflage raided schools in Yawota and nearby towns on motorcycles, marched victims into Old Oyo national park and later beheaded teacher Michael Oyedokun, 57, in captivity.
Parents and teaching unions marched in Ibadan this week as families described children as young as two and three missing, while local authorities shut schools across parts of Oyo state.
The attack has sharpened fears that kidnapping networks and displaced militants are expanding into Nigeria’s previously calmer south-west, where experts say weak state protection is pushing communities toward negotiation with armed groups.
With thousands of new guards deployed, why are kidnappers overrunning Nigeria's previously safe south and abducting more children?
Is a Boko Haram offshoot's brutal push into southern Nigeria a sign of its growing power or a final, desperate act?
Oyo School Abductions: 46 Still Held as Nigeria Faces Escalating Demands, Tragedy, and Calls for Reform
Overview
As of June 5, 2026, 46 hostages remain captive in Oyo, deepening national grief and sparking intense debate on insecurity and school safety. The crisis escalated with the beheading of a mathematics teacher, amplifying the psychological toll on families and the nation. Public pressure is mounting for a swift, non-violent resolution, while families of the abducted reject government aid, demanding only the safe return of their loved ones. These events highlight the immense emotional and political weight across Nigeria, as escalating demands from kidnappers and ongoing trauma drive urgent calls for effective action and systemic reform.