Terrorists who abducted pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are reportedly trapped inside the Oyo National Park, 36 days after the May 15 attacks. Security sources say the armed group, identified as members of Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, has intensified efforts to frustrate rescue operations.
The group is said to be planting Improvised Explosive Devices across the forest and frequently changing locations to avoid being tracked by security forces. Despite being surrounded, the terrorists are reportedly resisting capture, making the terrain increasingly dangerous for advancing troops.
The victims were taken from three schools: Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Esiele. At least 42 pupils and teachers, including a school principal, were abducted during the May 15 attacks. One teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed the following day, allegedly to discourage rescue operations.
Security officials also confirm that the abductors have demanded the release of two top commanders in exchange for the captives. The named commanders include Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy Abubakar Abba, also called Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri. The Federal Government has maintained it will not negotiate with terrorists, insisting on a full rescue mission.
Military sources describe the forest as heavily fortified with explosives and difficult terrain, slowing down operations. According to security insiders, all exit routes from the park have been blocked, preventing the abductors from moving the victims out of the forest. However, troops have reportedly come under repeated attacks during clearance operations.
At least three soldiers are believed to have been killed in separate shootouts inside the forest, while additional casualties have been recorded over time. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed that military personnel, including a lieutenant, have been killed during the rescue attempt.
A security source said: “They have planted IEDs everywhere and our men are navigating carefully. Some soldiers have been killed. The operation has slowed, but we are not relenting.”
One of the most difficult challenges facing the operation is the alleged use of abducted pupils and teachers as human shields. Security sources say this has prevented a full-scale assault on known terrorist positions.
“They’re using their victims as shields, and we don’t want a situation where they would begin to kill those children,” a source said.
Another source added that over 200 armed fighters are believed to be holding the victims in different locations within the forest. The group reportedly shifts positions frequently, making tracking and interception difficult despite surveillance efforts.
Security intelligence suggests the terrorists are deliberately intensifying attacks in other parts of the country to divert attention from the Oyo rescue operation. A former lawmaker familiar with the situation said the strategy is aimed at stretching security resources and forcing a redeployment of troops.
According to him: “They are trying to divert attention so soldiers in Oyo will be reduced. But they have been surrounded.” Reports indicate that similar attacks have increased in Kwara and other northern regions during the same period.
Retired military officers and security experts say the terrorists are adopting evolving tactics that complicate the rescue mission. Brigadier-General John Sura (retd.) described the attacks as a deliberate attempt to stretch national security capacity. He urged coordinated action and improved intelligence sharing, including stronger community involvement.
Another retired officer, Bashir Adewinbi, warned that the use of explosives shows increasing sophistication among the attackers. He called for greater reliance on aerial surveillance and faster judicial action against convicted terrorists. He also suggested revisiting satellite support systems such as NIGCOMSAT to improve real-time monitoring of forest operations.
The Oyo State Government says it is deliberately limiting public disclosure to avoid endangering the lives of the abducted victims. Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, stated that updates will only come from official sources. Security agencies, including the Defence Headquarters, have also declined detailed public comment on the ongoing operation.
Since the May 15 abduction, Nigeria has witnessed a rise in violent attacks across several states.
Notable incidents include: Abduction of about 42 pupils in Borno State on the same day as the Oyo attack, Killing of five residents in Kaduna State on May 21, Kidnap and subsequent death of retired Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar in Katsina State, Killing of soldiers in Borno during an attack on a military base, Closure of schools in Edo State over planned kidnappings, Multiple mass killings and highway abductions across Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna
Security reports suggest that nearly 100 criminal incidents were recorded nationwide within a single week, including homicides, kidnappings, armed robberies, and terror-related attacks.
The Oyo abduction rescue operation remains a high-risk military engagement marked by explosive traps, shifting enemy positions, and the use of civilians as shields.
While security forces maintain that the terrorists are surrounded, the complexity of the terrain and coordinated diversion attacks across the country continue to delay a decisive resolution. Authorities insist that efforts are ongoing, but the situation highlights the growing sophistication of armed groups and the expanding scope of Nigeria’s security crisis.
