‘They Surrounded Themselves With 47 Pupils’: Senator Reveals Why Oyo Kidnappers Are Nearly Impossible to Track

The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari, has revealed why efforts to rescue the 47 schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State remain extremely challenging, disclosing that the kidnappers are using the pupils as human shields deep inside a vast forest spanning several states.
According to Buhari, the abductors deliberately positioned the children around themselves, making any direct military operation highly risky and potentially deadly for the victims.
The lawmaker made the revelation during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he explained that the gunmen moved the pupils into a dense forest immediately after the abduction, complicating rescue efforts.
“They took the children to surround themselves. If security forces decide to attack, the abductors could kill all 47 children. They are being used as human shields,” Buhari said.
The senator stressed that the situation is unlike a conventional military operation because the kidnappers are constantly on the move and do not remain in a fixed location.
He further disclosed that the forest where the gunmen are believed to be hiding stretches across multiple states, including Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto, while also connecting to border communities near Benin Republic and Niger Republic.
“The forest has no clear beginning or end, and these criminals keep moving from one location to another, making tracking them very difficult,” he stated.
Buhari also alleged that some of the armed men involved in the abduction may be foreigners who exploit the extensive forest corridor to evade security forces.
The senator said a Federal Government delegation has visited affected families, including relatives of a man reportedly killed during the attack, to offer support and reassurance.
While anxiety continues to grow across communities in Ogbomoso and surrounding areas, Buhari urged authorities to adopt a cautious strategy that prioritises the safe return of the abducted pupils, warning that any reckless operation could put the children in greater danger.