Distraught mothers and a school principal have issued urgent appeals to the Nigerian government and security agencies for the immediate rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted by terrorists in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The coordinated attacks targeted communities in Esiele and Yawota, where armed men, described as wearing military uniforms, stormed schools and residences, opening fire and abducting numerous individuals.

As of Friday, two weeks after the initial abduction, and by the 13th day of captivity according to victims, the situation remains dire. Mrs. Aduke Balogun, one of the tearful mothers, recounted in a viral video how her eight-year-old daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, was among those taken. She emotionally pleaded with the government, "In Esenle, we are begging you. Our children went to school. It was after 9am when we truly saw the kidnappers. They wore Army uniforms. Before we understood what was going on, they started shooting and all of us ran away. I later saw my eight-year-old daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, among the abducted children. We are begging the government to bring back our children alive."

The principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, who was also abducted, made a poignant appeal from captivity. In a new viral video, a visibly distressed Mrs. Alamu warned President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde against using force, stating that an alleged failed rescue attempt by security operatives had worsened their situation. She revealed that one of the captives had been marked for execution, stressing, "Please I am here again to beg the government. President Tinubu and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde to please help us and dialogue with this people. They should not use force. The force they have used yesterday has caused us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been picked that they are going to kill him because government tried to help us by force. We want you to call them and dialogue with them, so that our lives will be saved." Another abducted teacher, Mary Akanbi, who is nursing a baby, echoed this plea, urging for negotiation.

The attacks, which caused widespread panic, involved gunmen invading schools and residents, shooting sporadically. During the invasion, a primary school teacher was killed, and a commercial motorcyclist and assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, also lost their lives. Eyewitnesses reported that the terrorists forced Mrs. Alamu to use her Toyota Corolla to transport the abducted children deep into a forest reserve. The car was later found burnt near one of the forest entrances, as confirmed by Esiele community chairman, Amusa Wakilu. Local farmer Micheal Ojo also narrated how his four children, daughter-in-law, and grandchild were among the kidnapped, and how the principal was forced to drive the pupils into the bush. Several motorcycles belonging to residents were stolen by the fleeing gunmen.

Amid these appeals and the worsening insecurity, President Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of the 2026 Children's Day celebration, assured parents and teachers of the safe return of schoolchildren kidnapped in Oyo and Borno States. He declared as a father and president that he would not forget or abandon the children in captivity. The President directed all security agencies to intensify coordinated, intelligence-led rescue operations for abducted children and other vulnerable citizens, emphasizing safe recovery. He also mandated the strengthening of school protection measures in high-risk areas, which will include updated school vulnerability mapping, closer coordination between state governments and security commands, rapid response links, and stronger community-based early warning systems. The Federal Ministry of Education, in conjunction with state governments, is tasked with deepening the implementation of the Safe Schools framework, ensuring clear reporting, responsibility, and timelines. President Tinubu stressed that rescue is not the end of the government's duty, committing to providing care, medical attention, counselling, education, and dignity for children returning from trauma. He also highlighted the collective responsibility of parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, and the media in protecting children, urging swift information sharing to save lives.

The theme for this year's Children's Day celebration, "Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child," resonated with the national conscience. First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu extended her well wishes, emphasizing that children are active participants in shaping the nation's present and urged them to take ownership of today responsibly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio charged Nigerian children to shun drugs, cultism, and other social vices, encouraging hard work, discipline, and patriotism, while assuring that the 10th Senate would prioritize policies safeguarding their rights and improving their wellbeing. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to inclusive and quality education for every Nigerian child, aligning with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. The minister also commended young disability advocate Dera Osadebe for inspiring conversations around empathy, inclusion, and equal opportunities for children with disabilities. These statements collectively underscore the government's stated commitment to nurturing, protecting, and empowering children through sustained investments in education and child development, despite the ongoing security challenges.