Nigerian armed forces have attributed the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, located in southern Nigeria, to members of the Boko Haram jihadist group.
A military spokesperson released a statement confirming that the attackers belonged to the Jama’at Ahl al-Sunnah li-l-Da’awah wa al-Jihad (JAS), widely recognized as Boko Haram. Authorities believe the armed group relocated to southern regions after facing increased military pressure in the north.
The incidents occurred last Friday in the communities of Yawota and Esiele, where heavily armed assailants stormed multiple educational institutions. Reports vary on the number of victims, with the Christian Association of Nigeria citing 39 children and seven teachers, while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde reported 25 pupils and seven instructors taken.
Security forces are actively searching for the missing victims, aged between 2 and 16 years, along with their educators.
unusual violence in a key educational hub
While school kidnappings have become frequent in Nigeria’s northern regions, such attacks remain rare in Oyo State, where the capital, Ibadan, serves as a major educational center.
military escalation and shifting threats
In response to rising violence, Nigerian troops, supported by American forces, have intensified operations against jihadist factions in the north. This crackdown is believed to have forced some militants to relocate southward.
Recent joint airstrikes in Nigeria’s northeast—the historical stronghold of Boko Haram—are reported to have resulted in the deaths of 175 jihadist fighters, according to military officials.
escalating conflict and human cost
Over the past months, armed groups have escalated attacks targeting both civilians and security personnel. Data from Abuja-based intelligence firm SBM Intelligence indicates that 306 Nigerian soldiers were killed in the first quarter of the year alone.
