Tinubu Vows Safe Return of Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren and Teachers

​President Bola Tinubu has assured the people of Oyo State that the schoolchildren and teachers recently kidnapped in the Oriire Local Government Area will be rescued safely and unharmed.

​The security breach occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, when bandits launched coordinated strikes on three educational institutions: Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele.

​The President’s reassurances were delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, during the official reopening of the newly remodelled Premier Hotel on Mokola Hill in Ibadan.

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​Federal Intervention and Strategic Security Upgrades

​Addressing the spike in regional insecurity, President Tinubu emphasized that the federal government is utilizing all available resources—including international partnerships—to secure the swift release of the victims. Over the past three years, the administration has steadily built up the country’s security frameworks.

​Key tactical updates from the administration include:

• ​Enhanced Intelligence Gathering: Streamlining communication lines between distinct branches of law enforcement and the military.
• ​Technological Surveillance: Expanding digital tracking footprint to better monitor active criminal corridors.
• ​Legislative Policing Reforms: Supporting ongoing structural reviews within the National Assembly to improve multi-level localized policing.

​”Economic development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, stability, and security. That is why our administration has continued to invest significantly in strengthening the nation’s security architecture,” the President stated.

​Unlocking South-West Regional Growth

​President Tinubu tied long-term economic stability directly to regional collaboration, calling on South-West governors to preserve the developmental legacies established by the region’s founding fathers.

​He highlighted the newly operationalized South West Development Commission (SWDC) as an essential institutional vehicle designed to drive modern infrastructure, transport links, and tourism. The President has directed the SWDC to collaborate closely with state governments, the DAWN Commission, and regional conglomerates like the Odu’a Group to unlock the zone’s commercial potential.

​The Rebirth of a National Icon

​The announcement coincided with a major milestone for regional hospitality: the grand reopening of the Premier Hotel. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State—represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Misbau Babatunde—hailed the venue as a living monument of South-Western culture and history.

​Originally built on Mokola Hill to serve as a cool, elevated beacon overlooking the historic city of Ibadan, the Premier Hotel stands alongside legacy properties like Enugu’s Hotel Presidential and Kaduna’s Hamdala Hotel. Bimbo Ashiru, the Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, noted that the extensive restoration represents a massive vote of confidence in the nation’s broader economic trajectory.