BREAKING: Oyo Security Adviser to Makinde Denies Viral Claims That Abducted School Victims Have Been Released

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According to Punch Newspaper, on Thursday, May 21,2026, Abayomi Fagbenro, Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has dismissed as false viral social media posts claiming that victims abducted during last Friday’s attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area have been released.

Fagbenro’s rebuttal, issued as unverified claims spread rapidly online, underscores the dangerous information vacuum that has surrounded the incident since gunmen stormed the schools and made away with an undisclosed number of students and staff.

The attack on the three Oriire schools marked one of the most alarming security incidents in Oyo State in recent memory, triggering anxiety among parents and communities in the affected area. Details about the number of persons abducted, their identities, and the group responsible have not been officially confirmed, with authorities maintaining tight control over operational information.

Fagbenro did not provide an update on the status of rescue efforts or indicate how close security operatives were to locating the victims. The Oyo State Government and the Nigeria Police Force have yet to issue a comprehensive situation report on the abduction.

The false release claims, which circulated widely before being contradicted, reflect a pattern common to high-profile abduction incidents in Nigeria, where unverified information spreads faster than official communication raising false hopes among families and complicating the work of security agencies on the ground.

Governor Makinde has not addressed the public directly on the abduction. Rights groups and parent associations are demanding immediate transparency from the state government on the condition of the victims and the concrete steps being taken to secure their release.