Fresh details have emerged on why efforts to rescue dozens of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo and Borno states have faced significant delays, with security sources revealing that the kidnappers are demanding the release of detained terrorist commanders as a condition for freeing their captives.
According to multiple security and Presidency sources, the abductors are insisting on a prisoner swap involving suspected Ansaru terror leaders currently in government custody. The Federal Government, however, is reluctant to grant the demand, fearing that releasing the commanders could strengthen terrorist operations and worsen insecurity across the country.
The sources disclosed that the kidnappers are specifically seeking the release of senior Ansaru figures, including Mahmud Muhammad Usman and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, who were arrested during intelligence-led counterterrorism operations in 2025.
Officials also believe the school abductions in Oyo and Borno were carefully coordinated to increase pressure on the government and strengthen the terrorists’ bargaining position.
One source explained that the difficult terrain where the victims are being held has further complicated rescue efforts. The dense forest locations, particularly in Oyo State, remain unfamiliar territory for many security operatives, making direct military intervention highly risky.
Security officials noted that the government is faced with a delicate dilemma: refusing to negotiate with terrorists while also avoiding military actions that could endanger the lives of the kidnapped children and teachers.
“The priority is to bring the victims home safely, but any rescue operation must be carefully planned to avoid casualties,” a source said.
The crisis began in mid-May when armed men attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting pupils, students and teachers from multiple schools. Days later, one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the abductors.
In Borno State, suspected Boko Haram insurgents also abducted dozens of schoolchildren during separate attacks on schools in Askira-Uba and Chibok local government areas.
Amid growing concern, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted children and teachers.
He described schools as safe spaces that should never become targets of violence, urging authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ freedom and bring those responsible to justice.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the safe return of all abducted pupils and teachers remains a top priority.
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Speaking at a national security briefing in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed security agencies to deploy all lawful means to rescue the victims and track down those behind the attacks.
According to the minister, intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, community engagement and rescue operations are ongoing, with multiple security agencies working together to secure the victims’ release.
The government also announced plans to recruit 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities and forest corridors.
Despite these assurances, civil society organisations have criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that rising kidnappings, killings and attacks on schools reflect deeper governance and security failures.
The organisations urged authorities to improve intelligence gathering, dismantle kidnapping networks and prioritise the protection of schools and vulnerable communities across the country.
Student groups have also joined calls for urgent action, insisting that the safety of students and teachers must remain a national priority while efforts continue to secure the release of those still in captivity.
