The Oyo State Police Command has strongly debunked viral claims circulating on social media that the students, pupils, and teachers abducted from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area have been rescued.

A formal press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, clarified that all the victims remain in captivity. The command explicitly dismissed the release rumors as fake news, emphasizing that joint security operations are still actively ongoing to secure their safe freedom.

The mass abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men invaded three educational institutions within the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Ogbomoso. The targeted schools include Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. Official police tracking indicates that 25 pupils and teachers remain missing following the coordinated raid. The situation has drawn sharp condemnation from federal authorities, with President Bola Tinubu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, ordering a rapid, tech-driven rescue mission. To intensify the field operations, Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu has deployed additional specialized detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to collaborate with local tactical squads.

The police command strongly warned the public against the spread of unverified information and rumors. According to security officials, the circulation of fake news regarding the status of the hostages creates unnecessary public panic, heightens tension for the victims’ families, and actively diverts limited, critical security resources away from the active tactical teams tracking the kidnappers.