Relatives of Oyo hostages describe horrific experience of watching footage of their loved ones at gunpoint

Ahoro-Esienle has been suspended in a state of limbo for 18 agonising days, with the community torn between hope and despair as they await the return of their abducted children and teachers, whose fate remains a mystery.

n

Deep within the forests surrounding the Old Oyo National Park in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, dozens of students and teachers are being held captive, leaving behind a community consumed by uncertainty and fear.

n

The abduction has left an entire community in a state of emotional numbness, with grief and expectation coexisting in every household, and silence becoming a more potent expression than words.

n

In the absence of certainty, the imagination of the families has become a double-edged sword, providing comfort and torment as they envision their loved ones in various states of being, from hunger and fear to safety and freedom.

n

The mind of the families is a battleground between fear and faith, with the fragile balance between the two being tested daily, as the days turn into weeks with no definitive word on the whereabouts or condition of the abducted.

n

The passing of time has stretched the emotional distance between the abducted and those left behind, making hope feel like an act of endurance rather than optimism, as the community struggles to come to terms with the ordeal.

n

Among the abducted are children as young as two and four years old, who are caught in a nightmare that no child should ever experience, held somewhere within the dense wilderness that surrounds the Old Oyo National Park.

n

The Old Oyo National Park, established in 1991 as a protected area for wildlife conservation and eco-tourism, spans approximately 2,512 square kilometres across multiple local government areas, including Oriire, Irepo, Atiba, Atisbo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Ogo-Oluwa, Oorelope, Oyo West, and Saki East.

n

However, for communities on the fringes of the park, the promise of a national asset has given way to a growing sense of insecurity, as the forest has become a haven for criminal elements who exploit its size and difficult terrain.

n

The consequences of living beside the park are visible in everyday life, with poorly maintained roads, unreliable communication networks, and a sense of isolation that deepens the feeling of abandonment among residents.

n

Transportation has become a significant burden, with motorcycle riders imposing steep fares that reflect the risk and scarcity of movement, making daily travel a challenge for many households already struggling with hardship.

n

The cumulative effect of these challenges has hollowed out community life, with farmers hesitant to venture out, fear dictating decisions, and families beginning to leave in search of safety, leaving behind homes that stand increasingly empty.

n

Education has been perhaps the most visible casualty of the abduction, with schools emptied not only by the incident but also by the climate of fear that preceded it, and classrooms remaining silent, with chalkboards still bearing the last recorded date: May 15, 2026.

n

Inside the classrooms, scattered sandals and slippers remain, carrying an unbearable emotional weight, as they speak of confusion, hurried escape, and children who did not have time to understand what was happening before they were swept away.

n

Long before the abduction, residents had warned of emerging danger, including the killing of at least five guards in Oloka village in January 2026, which did not bring lasting relief or structural change.

n

The incident on May 15, 2026, began like any other school day, with students arriving for lessons and teachers preparing for examinations, but it ended in catastrophe when armed men stormed the community, firing shots and rounding up students and teachers.

n

The attack unfolded with disturbing speed and coordination, with the gunmen moving directly towards the schools, and the operation feeling deliberate and methodical, as though every movement had been planned in advance.

n

Amid the chaos, the cries of children and pleas of teachers filled the air, but nothing halted the advance of the armed men, who vanished into the forest, leaving behind a community shattered by the abduction.

n

For families like that of Mrs Jacob Agnes Ojo, whose daughter Testimony is among the abducted, the pain is unbearable, and the appeal is directed at the highest levels of government, with a plea to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to intensify efforts to secure the release of their children and teachers.

n

Mrs Funmilayo Ojo, whose sister-in-law and four children are among the abducted, has seen her family structure shattered, and her fear is simple and urgent, with a plea to the government to come to their aid, as they struggle with the thought of their loved ones in captivity without food or medication.

n

Ojo Adekunle, whose six-year-old child is among the abducted, recalls previous killings in the forest, including a farmer who was killed for resisting cattle grazing on his farmland, and sees the abduction as an escalation of violence in the community.

n

Professor Wole Alamu, whose wife Mrs Fola Alamu is the principal of one of the attacked schools, speaks with restrained anguish, recalling her routine commute from Ogbomoso and the destruction of her vehicle during the attack.

n

Traditional leaders, including the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, have weighed in, acknowledging government efforts but stressing the need for a stronger military presence and better infrastructure.

n

Government officials, including Commissioner for Education Segun Olayiwola, have maintained that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted, with a delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila visiting the community and assuring families that no stone will be left unturned.

n

President Bola Tinubu's message, delivered by Gbajabiamila, assured families that all options, both kinetic and non-kinetic, were on the table to ensure the safe return of the abducted, with Defence and security chiefs reinforcing this message and urging communities to report suspicious activity.

n

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the incident as "pure evil" and announced the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State, as part of efforts to enhance security in the state.

n

Despite these assurances, life in Ahoro-Esienle remains suspended in uncertainty, with classrooms empty, the forest silent, and the community waiting for a return that has not yet come, more than twenty days after the attack.

n

Governor Seyi Makinde has imposed a statewide night-time ban on commercial motorcycle operations, as part of a broader security crackdown aimed at curbing criminal activities and enhancing public safety, with the restriction forming a key component of Executive Order No. 002 of 2026.

n

The governor explained that the measures were designed to address emerging security threats and ensure stricter compliance with existing traffic and vehicle registration laws, with unregistered vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles increasingly being used to facilitate criminal activities.

n

Makinde disclosed that designated enforcement authorities have been empowered to arrest offenders and impound vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles found to be in breach of the provisions of the order, with individuals apprehended under the executive order to be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

n

The governor assured residents that his administration remains fully committed to securing the safe return of all abducted victims and is working tirelessly with relevant security agencies to achieve that objective, sharing in the anxiety and hope of the families affected.