Why Kidnappers Killed Two Oyo Teachers — Rescued Principal

The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has disclosed that the kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State executed two teachers in captivity to force the government into yielding to their demands.

Mrs. Alamu made the revelation on Monday during the formal handover of the rescued pupils and teachers to the Oyo State Government at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

Recounting the 56-day ordeal, she said the abductors subjected the victims to fear, psychological torture and inhumane conditions while holding them in the forest. According to her, the killing of the two teachers was a deliberate tactic to intimidate the hostages and pressure the government into negotiating with the kidnappers.

She expressed gratitude to God for preserving the lives of the remaining victims and thanked the Nigerian Army, other security agencies, the Oyo State Government and all those who contributed to the rescue operation.

The victims regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes. The operation also led to the arrest of several suspects linked to the abduction.

The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area, sparking nationwide outrage. During the period of captivity, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded, while another teacher was also killed by the kidnappers.

The successful rescue of the remaining captives ended nearly two months of uncertainty for their families and marked the conclusion of one of the most high-profile school abduction cases in the South-West in recent years.