Children’s Day: Oyo pupils, teachers still in captivity 12 days after abduction – CSO cries out 

As Nigeria marks this year’s Children’s Day, a civil society organization known as Child Protection Network has raised the alarm that pupils and teachers of Oyo State schools are still in captivity 12 days after their abduction by terrorists. 

In a statement by its coordinator, Olakunle Sanni, the group called for the immediate rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers. 

Recall that on May 15, 2026, several pupils and teachers were abducted from the Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of the Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State. 

Another abduction took place within the same time in a community in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The separate incidents led to the abduction of over 40 pupils. 

One of the abductees, a teacher in Oyo State identified as Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the terrorists.

In a Children’s Day message, Sanni described the attacks as a reflection of the growing insecurity facing children and schools across Nigeria.

“We are deeply alarmed by the recent abduction of school children in Oyo and Borno states, where innocent pupils and teachers were reportedly kidnapped by armed groups during attacks on schools,” he said.

“The attacks in Oyo and Borno, reportedly involving dozens of children, including pupils aged two and three, further demonstrate the devastating impact of terrorism and insecurity on education and child safety in Nigeria.”