Troops Tighten Siege as Oyo School Kidnappers Drop Demands, Focus on Ransom

By Eshioromeh Sebastian

Hope is rising for the safe return of 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers from Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, as security forces intensify their rescue operation.

Military troops have effectively surrounded a hideout within the National Park forest area where the victims are believed to be held, blocking all possible escape routes and restricting the kidnappers’ movement with the hostages .

Under mounting military pressure, the terrorists have abandoned some of their initial demands and are now primarily focused on securing ransom payments .

Demands Scaled Back

The kidnappers, linked to the Ansaru terrorist group, had initially presented four major demands: the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles, and implementation of Sharia-related laws .

Among those whose release was demanded are Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a), the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru,” and his deputy, Abubakar Abba (alias Mahmud Al-Nigeri) . Both senior members of the Boko Haram breakaway faction were arrested by DSS operatives last year and are currently facing terrorism charges .

However, as troops continue to tighten their grip, the kidnappers have reportedly dropped these demands and are now largely focused on securing ransom payment .

Desperate Tactics

Security sources revealed that, facing mounting pressure and the likelihood of capture, the terrorists have resorted to desperate tactics . This includes the recent gruesome killing of one of the abducted teachers in an attempt to blackmail authorities and force a halt to the rescue operation .

Rescue Operation Intensifies

Multiple security sources confirmed that troops and other security personnel have been effectively deployed around the forest hideout . The affected communities, located near Nigeria’s border corridor with the Niger Republic and the Kainji axis, are known for their difficult terrain and limited communication networks .

Investigations indicate that the leader of the kidnapping gang is an indigene of Oriire Local Government Area who lived among residents before becoming radicalized by the Ansaru group .

Intelligence reports had earlier uncovered plans for attacks on schools in the area, prompting preventive measures including the temporary closure of some schools before the abduction occurred on May 15, 2026 .

A senior security officer expressed confidence in the operation, stating: “The war against terrorism will be won. We will not relent in the ongoing offensive until these criminals are either eliminated or forced out of the country” .