Suspected terrorists who abducted pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have reportedly opened communication channels with the state government, offering a glimmer of hope after more than a week of uncertainty for families of the victims.
Sources familiar with the development told journalists that the abductors had refused to negotiate directly with relatives of those held captive, insisting instead on speaking only with Governor Seyi Makinde or representatives of the state government.
“They said they only want to talk to the governor and nobody else. That was the condition they gave for negotiation. So, nobody knows the details and what they are demanding,” a source said.
Although it remains unclear whether the governor is personally involved in the discussions, another source described the establishment of communication as a significant breakthrough.
“It is not that security agencies don’t know what to do. But the risks are too high. The relief is that at least now, they are talking,” the source added.
The Oyo State Government declined to provide details of any ongoing negotiations. Governor Makinde’s Special Adviser on Security, Abayomi Fagbenro, said: “I can’t give any information at the moment.”
The attack, which occurred last week in Esinele, Yamota and Alawusa communities, saw gunmen abduct teachers and schoolchildren, including toddlers aged two and three.
The victims have now spent eight days in captivity, with residents expressing growing concern about their welfare as the rainy season begins.
Community sources said the abductees were being moved through dense forests and across state boundaries in an apparent effort to evade security forces.
A community leader, who requested anonymity, said families remained unaware of the captives’ whereabouts.
“We are worried about their safety. We don’t know how they are faring. Children as young as two years old are among the abductees,” he said.
The abductions have triggered widespread fear across Ogbomoso and surrounding communities, including Ikose, Ikoyi, Tewure and Dananu, where many parents have withdrawn their children from school.
Teachers told journalists that attendance in both public and private schools had dropped sharply, with some schools recording almost no pupil presence since the incident.
One teacher at Ikose Primary School said panic intensified after students at Areago Grammar School reportedly mistook local hunters for armed attackers, sparking a stampede.
“Pupils stopped attending school after the Esinele attacks. The situation worsened when students raised an alarm that terrorists were on school premises. There was pandemonium and everybody started running,” the teacher said.
Educators across the area said many parents were keeping children at home until security conditions improved.
Another teacher, identified simply as Oyeyemi, said anxiety had deepened following the deaths of two teachers linked to the abduction.
“We are traumatised. Some teachers are already discussing whether to stop going to remote schools for now. When you hear that a fellow teacher was killed and another was beheaded, you will understand the level of panic,” she said.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, acknowledged fears among residents but argued that misinformation circulating online had amplified tensions.
“Bloggers are posting videos to aggravate the situation, even when the videos are false,” he said.
According to him, the government has issued statements aimed at reassuring residents and highlighting ongoing security efforts.
“Most of the incidents can be attributed to fake news emanating from social media. Recorded videos showing panic among students naturally resonate with parents, who do not want their children exposed to danger,” he added.
Meanwhile, emotional scenes unfolded in Ogbomoso as family members, colleagues and education stakeholders gathered to bury 49-year-old teacher Joel Adesiyan, who was killed during the attack.
The funeral service at Ayegun Baptist Church was attended by government representatives, officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), friends and relatives.
In a tribute delivered on behalf of Governor Makinde, the state government reiterated its commitment to securing the release of those still in captivity.
“The state government is sad about the incident, and the government is doing all within its capacity to ensure that those in captivity are returned unhurt,” the message read.
NUT Chairman Fatai Hassan described the deceased as a dedicated educator whose contribution to teaching would not be forgotten.
“The classrooms you once taught in will miss your voice, the staff room will miss your presence, and the union will miss your courage,” he said.
The family of another victim, teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly beheaded by his abductors, described his death as an irreplaceable loss.
Family spokesperson Ebeni Adediran said Oyedokun had spent more than two decades teaching in public schools and had been married for over 10 years without having children.
“The most painful part is that he did not leave any child behind. He had a wife but they did not have any child,” Adediran said.
The family also appealed to Nigerians to stop sharing graphic videos and images of the slain teacher on social media, saying the circulation of the content was worsening their grief.
“The continuous circulation of those videos and images is deeply traumatising for us as a family,” the family said in a statement.
The killings and ongoing captivity of pupils and teachers have renewed concerns over the security of schools in rural communities, with educators and parents calling for stronger protection measures around vulnerable learning centres.
