- Oyo State Government strongly refutes social media claims alleging that ransom was paid to secure the release of abducted school children and teachers in Oriire LGA.
- The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, labeled the reports as false narratives spread by irresponsible bloggers to misinform the public.
- The victims, who were abducted on May 15, 2026, from schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle, remain in captivity while state and federal security forces intensify rescue operations.
The Oyo State Government has officially debunked reports claiming that it paid ransom to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state, describing the allegations as false and highly misleading.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in an official statement released on Friday, July 3, 2026, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, clarified that the rumor is far from the truth and represents a deliberate attempt by irresponsible bloggers to create confusion and misinform the public.
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Oyelade emphasized that while both the Oyo State Government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, and the Federal Government are making concerted efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the captives, no ransom has been paid to the bandits either directly or indirectly.
He urged the public to completely disregard these unverified reports and rely solely on official government channels for updates.
The security incident dates back to May 15, 2026, when bandits launched a coordinated operation targeting three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities within Oriire Local Government Area.
The attack tragically claimed the life of one teacher before the bandits fled with the school children and remaining staff.
The abductees are still being held in captivity. The commissioner maintained that the state administration is working closely with various security agencies to intensify rescue operations, bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure this sad event is brought to a safe close.
