Nigerian Air Force Sustains Aerial Surveillance to Aid Rescue of Abducted Oyo School Victims

On 15 May 2026, armed men attacked three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria, abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers; one teacher was later killed. Governor Seyi Makinde praised the rapid response of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), which deployed an aerial surveillance platform immediately after the abduction and has continued to provide intelligence to security agencies involved in the search‑and‑rescue operation.

The surveillance missions have helped track developments, coordinate ground actions and support negotiations for the safe release of the victims. Makinde noted that the state had procured additional aircraft, now being assembled at the NAF base in Lagos, which will further enhance the region’s security capacity once operational. Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, represented by Air Vice‑Marshal Abubakar Suleh, reaffirmed NAF’s commitment to the rescue effort and thanked the Oyo government for its cooperation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorised the deployment of 1,000 forest rangers and a special security team to intensify the operation. The combined efforts of the air force, state authorities and federal security forces continue to focus on locating and freeing the remaining abducted teachers and pupils.