‘You’re Not Abandoned,’ Tinubu Assures Abducted Oyo, Borno Schoolchildren

‘You’re Not Abandoned,’ Tinubu Assures Abducted Oyo, Borno Schoolchildren

President Bola Tinubu has assured families of schoolchildren abducted during separate attacks in Oyo State and Borno State that the victims will be rescued safely, declaring that the Federal Government will not relent until all the children regain their freedom.

The President gave the assurance in his Children’s Day 2026 message released on Wednesday, as he addressed growing national concerns over the recent wave of school attacks and abductions across parts of the country.

The message comes in the wake of coordinated attacks carried out on May 15, when armed assailants stormed schools in both states and abducted dozens of pupils and teachers.

In Oyo State, suspected gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located within Oriire Local Government Area.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the attackers killed at least two persons during the operation and abducted about 45 pupils, alongside teachers and a school principal.

Security officials said the assailants reportedly invaded the communities in the early hours, firing gunshots before whisking the victims away into surrounding forested areas.

The attack triggered outrage across the state, with the Oyo State Government condemning the incident and pledging full cooperation with federal security agencies to secure the release of the victims.

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In Borno State, insurgents reportedly stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area while classes were ongoing, abducting several students and staff members.

The incident has heightened fears over a resurgence of school-targeted attacks in Nigeria’s North-East, reviving painful memories of past insurgent-led mass abductions.

Reacting to the attacks, Tinubu reassured affected families that the abducted children had not been forgotten.

“As we mark this special day, which coincides with Eid-el-Kabir, some Nigerian children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno should be with their families, but are being held captive by criminals,” the President said.

“To those children, their parents, and their teachers, I say this as a father and your President: you are not forgotten. You are not abandoned.”

The President said his administration had directed all relevant security agencies, including the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and intelligence units, to intensify rescue operations nationwide.

According to him, security agencies have been instructed to deploy intelligence-driven rescue strategies focused on ensuring the safe return of all abducted victims while minimising risks to their lives.

Tinubu also announced plans to strengthen school security nationwide through expanded implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, particularly in vulnerable and conflict-prone communities.

He said the new measures would include updated school vulnerability mapping, rapid-response communication systems, improved surveillance mechanisms, and stronger community-based early warning structures.

The President further disclosed that all rescued children would receive medical treatment, trauma counselling, psychosocial support, education assistance and reintegration programmes to aid their recovery.

He urged parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and local communities to work closely with security agencies to safeguard schools and prevent future attacks.

“The fight to protect children must begin before an attack happens, not after one has already occurred,” Tinubu stated.

The latest attacks have renewed calls from education stakeholders and security experts for urgent reinforcement of school protection frameworks to guarantee the safety of Nigerian children and preserve uninterrupted access to education.

‘You’re Not Abandoned,’ Tinubu Assures Abducted Oyo, Borno Schoolchildren