Makinde Confirms 7 Teachers Abducted in Oyo, One Killed — Rescue Operations Underway

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed Sunday night that seven teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in the Oriire Local Government Area last week, and that one teacher has been killed. Speaking at his private Kolapo Ishola residence in Ibadan after a late-night security meeting with military and police commanders, Makinde said rescue operations are ongoing but have faced setbacks.

What Happened in Oriire

Gunmen struck multiple schools in communities around Oriire LGA, taking teachers hostage. The attack drew comparisons to earlier Chibok-style abductions, though Makinde’s government was quick to push back on that narrative, stressing that these were targeted kidnappings, not mass school raids. Still, the scale — seven teachers confirmed abducted, at least one confirmed dead — is significant enough to rattle southwest Nigeria.

The Nation reported that Makinde spoke after a high-level security review involving senior military and police commanders in the state.

Casualties on Both Sides

The governor confirmed that the rescue effort has cost lives. One Amotekun operative is in critical condition in hospital, and soldiers, hunters, and other personnel sustained injuries during exchanges with the kidnappers. “They are currently recovering, and the government will continue to take full responsibility for their recovery and medical bills,” Makinde said.

He did not give a timeline for the expected rescue but said the state is working closely with federal security agencies and neighbouring state governments.

State-Wide Crackdown Launched

In response to the abductions, Makinde announced a state-wide security crackdown targeting rural areas and forest corridors used by criminal gangs in Oyo. The governor said additional security assets have been deployed and that communities are being engaged to share intelligence.

Premium Times reported that Makinde confirmed the killing of a teacher in the incident, adding weight to concerns that the kidnappers are not bluffing on their threats. Tribune Online also reported that the governor gave updates on rescue operations during the late-night briefing.

Pressure on Makinde

The abductions put political pressure on Makinde at a sensitive time. The southwest has largely marketed itself as more secure than the north, but repeated kidnapping incidents in Oyo’s rural areas are testing that narrative. Opposition voices are already pointing to the attack as evidence of a security gap in the state.

For parents and school communities in Oriire, the wait continues. As of Monday, no hostage has been recovered alive.

Sources: The Nation, Premium Times, Tribune Online