CLAIM: Oyo State Kidnapped School Children And Teachers Freed
On June 3, 2026, a Facebook user, @Nancy Vinking posted in a group, claiming that the kidnapped school children in Oyo are now free after a ransom payment was made and have safely returned to their families. The post had images of students and people carrying a sign with a write-up, “Welcome home, our heroes,” and the caption “The kidnapped school children in Oyo are now free after a ransom payment was made and have safely returned to their families. The news has elicited relief, joy, and gratitude from parents, loved ones, and all who prayed for their safe return. We pray that God’s protection will continue to be with our children.
When this report was published, this claim had about 793 likes, comments, and shares.
VERIFICATION
On Friday, May 15, 2026, approximately 12 gunmen riding motorcycles and dressed in military camouflage launched coordinated attacks on three schools in the Esiele/Ahoro-Esinele community of Oriire Local Government Area. The schools targeted were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. The attackers stormed the schools at approximately 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., shooting indiscriminately before abducting a large number of pupils and teachers.
No fewer than 46 persons were kidnapped in total. Among them is a two-year-old toddler. Several persons were reportedly killed, while one of the abducted teachers, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded after a video linked to the incident surfaced online.
On May 27, 2026, a distress video emerged online featuring Mrs. Folawe Alamu, the abducted Vice Principal, kneeling and visibly distraught. In the video, she confirmed that the victims had remained in the bush since the abduction and were being exposed to harsh weather conditions.
The kidnappings sparked nationwide protests from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, civil society organizations, and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. From Lagos to Oyo, Ogun, Plateau, Kaduna, and other states, teachers and civil society groups hit the streets in peaceful protests, calling on federal and state governments to secure the immediate release of those abducted.
The suspected kidnappers are also reported to be in communication with the state government. Sources indicate that the abductors refused to speak directly with the families of the victims, insisting they would only talk to the governor.
The exact terms of any negotiation remain unknown to the public, and neither the Oyo State Government nor the Oyo State Police Command have issued any official statement regarding the release of the abducted children and teachers in Oyo State.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State have been freed following a ransom payment is FALSE. As of June 8, 2026, the abducted victims taken from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area remain in the custody of their abductors. No credible government authority, security agency, or mainstream media organisation has confirmed any release.
