Obi Celebrates Rescue of Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren

Peter Obi, a member of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, expressed his delight following the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and a teacher in Oyo State. The incident occurred on May 15, 2026, when 39 students and six teachers were kidnapped during a heavily armed attack on three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area.

The victims were held captive for 56 days before being freed through a coordinated operation by security agencies, which led to the arrest of eight suspects. Obi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning to express his gratitude for the safe return of the children, acknowledging the efforts of security personnel and others involved in the rescue.

However, he also highlighted the vulnerabilities within Nigeria's current security framework and the urgent need to strengthen it to protect lives and property. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also expressed gratitude to the military, police, and local hunters involved in the rescue and pledged to focus on rehabilitating the victims and enhancing security measures around schools.