'All I see are videos with guns pointed at her': Families of Oyo captives recount ordeal

June 7, 2026

By Adeola Badru

For 18 agonising days, the people of Ahoro-Esienle have lived in a world suspended between hope and heartbreak.

Every sunrise arrived carrying the same unanswered questions. Every sunset deepens the uncertainty. Will the children come home? Are they safe? When will the nightmare end?

Deep inside the forests surrounding the Old Oyo National Park, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, toddlers barely old enough to speak in complete sentences, schoolchildren with unfinished lessons and teachers dedicated to shaping young minds remain in captivity.