36 Days After Oyo School Abduction, Security Forces Close In On Trapped Hostage-Takers

Thirty-six days after gunmen swept through three schools in Oyo State and disappeared into the wilderness with dozens of pupils and teachers, security forces have cornered the hostage-takers inside the Oyo National Park in what officials call the most decisive stage of the rescue effort.

Intelligence reports suggest the terrorists are effectively trapped within the park. Troops have mounted a sustained operation aimed at freeing the captives and dismantling the group behind the abduction.

The attackers seized 42 pupils and education workers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, L.A. Primary School, and Community Grammar School, Esiele, on May 15. The mass abduction alarmed the country and raised fears that extremist violence was spreading into a region previously spared from such attacks.

According to security sources, the kidnappers are running low on supplies and have been mounting stiff resistance as troops close in. The operation has exposed how far the threat has extended beyond the northeast, where such attacks have long been concentrated.

For families waiting for news of their children, every passing day feels like an eternity. The prolonged standoff has also raised questions about the safety of schools in rural communities across the country.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had previously confirmed that the abducted pupils and teachers were being held in the Old Oyo National Park, as reported here.

Sources: Vanguard