According to a report by Vanguard on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Oyo State Police Command has revealed new details about the abduction of schoolchildren in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, including how suspected informants allegedly played a role in supporting the kidnappers before and after the operation.
According to investigators, preliminary findings suggest that some individuals may have maintained phone contact with the armed group responsible for the attack. These communications are now being examined as part of efforts to understand how the criminals planned and executed the incident.
Security officials explained that the suspects under investigation allegedly provided information that helped the attackers move through difficult terrain, including forested routes within a national park area believed to have been used as a cover for escape and concealment.
Police sources said that analysis of call records and intercepted conversations indicated discussions around safe passages and possible hideouts, which may have assisted the armed group in avoiding detection while transporting victims away from the scene.
The breakthrough in the investigation has so far led to the arrest of at least six individuals. The suspects are currently in custody and are reportedly cooperating with law enforcement agencies as interrogation continues.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed that the arrests were carried out during coordinated security operations across several parts of Oyo State.
He stated that early investigative work points to the possibility that some of the detained suspects acted as informants for the attackers, supplying logistical information that may have facilitated the abduction and killings.
Ayanlade further noted that security analysts are carefully reviewing the communication links between the suspects and the armed group in order to identify additional collaborators and determine the full scope of the network behind the attack.
He added that some of the messages and calls under review reportedly included details about movement routes through forested areas and locations believed to have served as temporary hideouts for the kidnappers.
The police spokesperson also explained that the arrests were achieved through a joint effort involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun, and Agro-Rangers operatives.
According to him, the coordinated operation was driven by intelligence gathered over time, which helped security agencies track and apprehend the suspects in different locations.
Authorities have assured residents that efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest other members of the criminal group who are still at large.
They emphasized that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that everyone connected to the violent incident is brought to justice.
The attack, which resulted in the deaths of two teachers and a motorcycle rider while several schoolchildren were abducted last Friday, has continued to raise serious concern among residents of Oriire and surrounding communities, with calls for stronger security presence in the area.
