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

As Nigeria observes this year’s Children’s Day, the Child Protection Network, a civil society organization, has warned that pupils and teachers from Oyo State schools remain in captivity 12 days after their abduction by terrorists.

In a statement from its coordinator, Olakunle Sanni, the group urged the immediate rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers.

On May 15, 2026, several pupils and teachers were taken from the Ahoro‑Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State.

A separate abduction occurred around the same time in a community in Askira‑Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, bringing the total number of abducted pupils to over 40.

One of the abductees, a teacher from Oyo State named Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the terrorists.

In a Children’s Day message, Sanni described the attacks as a sign of the growing insecurity affecting 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.”