Security agencies tracking the terrorists behind the mass abduction at Ahoro Esinele Community in Oriire Local Government Area have smashed a local logistics ring, arresting nine suspects believed to be spying and providing intelligence for the kidnappers.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, confirmed the breakthrough on Monday, May 18, 2026, during a press briefing held at his private residence in Ibadan shortly after a high-level security review meeting.
According to the Governor, the collaborative efforts of various security arms have successfully choked the operational support system of the terrorists within the state.
“Well, from the information available from the Commissioner of Police, about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them, we believe, may be informants or individuals handling logistics for the terrorists,” Governor Makinde revealed. “Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested by another security outfit within the state.”
Despite the arrests, the situation remains highly critical. Governor Makinde broke the tragic news that the kidnappers had executed one of the captive educators early Monday morning.
“Unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, I understand the Maths teacher, was killed by the terrorists this morning,” Makinde stated, extending his deep condolences to the bereaved family.
While the exact number of abducted primary school pupils remains unverified as security forces continue to establish the full details, the state government has officially confirmed that seven teachers were taken during the raid.
The hunt for the over 40 abducted victims suffered a brief setback when a joint tactical team—comprising soldiers, police officers, the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, and local hunters—encountered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried in the forest by the fleeing terrorists.
A few soldiers and local hunters sustained injuries from the landmines. Governor Makinde, however, assured the public that the wounded personnel are responding positively to treatment at medical facilities, adding that the state government will completely absorb their healthcare costs.
Acknowledging the rising tempers and heavy pressure coming from community elders, regional leaders, and religious bodies across Oyo State, the Governor appealed for calm and patience. He emphasized that the administration has resolved to approach the hostage crisis through a dual-track framework: a kinetic strategy involving direct military pressure, alongside a non-kinetic, softer approach to ensure the victims are released alive.
“I want to appeal to everybody… that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that we resolve this situation quickly and bring our children back safely. But we must recognise that this is a challenging situation. So, please, there may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to endeavour to push ourselves to the limit,” he maintained.
Providing a broader geopolitical context to the raid, Governor Makinde attributed the influx of bandits into Oyo State to intense military campaigns in the northern region.
“We must appreciate the fact that with the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West and the North-East, they will keep moving southwards,” Makinde noted. He confirmed that he is already in direct contact with the Governor of Kwara State to design a joint border strategy to repel and neutralize the fleeing cells.
Moving forward, the Governor promised a thorough retooling of the state’s security architecture around vulnerable targets like schools and factories. He also announced that the state will begin hosting daily security briefings to protect citizens from unverified rumors and keep the public updated on the rescue mission.
