29 Days and Still No School: Oyo Families Refuse to Give Up

ORIIRE — Mrs Funmilayo Ojo has not slept a full night in 29 days. Every morning she wakes up hoping to see her daughter Testimony walk through the door. Every morning the door stays closed.

Testimony, 11 years old, is among the 46 pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. Armed gunmen stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele during school hours. They rode in on motorcycles, fired shots into the air, and dragged children from their classrooms.

A Teacher Killed, Others Still Missing

Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was among those taken. He did not survive. Reports indicate he was killed by the bandits while in captivity. His brother told Punch Newspapers that the memory haunts him daily. “Every time I close my eyes, I see what they did to him,” he said.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has since declared an indefinite strike across Oyo State. Parents now face the double burden of grief and empty classrooms.

27 Days of Silence

On Friday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde released a newsletter confirming that the victims remained inside the Old Oyo National Park. He said rescue operations were ongoing. Makinde warned against the spread of unverified information, noting that misinformation could compromise security operations.

“I understand the pain and anxiety many of you are experiencing,” Makinde said. He assured families that no stone was being left unturned.

A Community in Mourning

Back in Ahoro-Esinele, the open field where children once played is now quiet. Parents gather there in the evenings, not to play, but to pray. Some have stopped eating regularly. Others can barely speak without breaking down.

The abductions have sparked nationwide protests. Demonstrators gathered in Lagos on Democracy Day, demanding the safe return of the captives. On the same day, Afrobeats superstar Davido wore an outfit bearing the names of the missing children at a concert in Los Angeles.