Children’s Day: Tinubu Promises Intensified Rescue Efforts for Abducted Pupils in Oyo, Borno

President Bola Tinubu has assured families of abducted children in Oyo and Borno states that the federal government will step up efforts to secure their release and strengthen school protection measures across vulnerable communities.

In a personally signed statement marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, Tinubu said the abducted children remained a priority for his administration and that the government would not abandon affected families.

“Not Forgotten, Not Abandoned”

“As we mark this special day, which coincides with Eid-el-Kabir, some Nigerian children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno should be with their families, but are being held captive by criminals,” the president said.

He directed security agencies to intensify intelligence-driven rescue operations and strengthen protection measures for schools in at-risk areas. Tinubu’s Children’s Day message, themed “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” struck a sombre tone as it acknowledged the ongoing captivity of 42 pupils in Oyo and 42 in Borno.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

The pupils were abducted from their schools in separate incidents in May 2026. The Oyo kidnapping occurred at the Oriire community school where a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed and over 45 pupils taken. In Borno, the abduction happened in the Gubio Local Government Area.

The DSS has taken over the rescue operation in Oyo, while the military leads efforts in Borno. Abductors in both cases have demanded ransom, but security agencies have not confirmed whether negotiations are ongoing.

Thirteen days after the abductions, the children remain in captivity despite repeated government promises of rescue.

Sources: Premium Times, The Nation