The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari, has revealed that the 47 pupils recently abducted in Oyo State are being used as human shields by their captors.
Speaking on Arise Television’s *Prime Time* on Thursday night, Buhari warned that a direct military assault on the kidnappers’ hideout could prove fatal for the children. He explained that the gunmen, who abducted the pupils from schools in Ogbomoso and Oriire Local Government Areas, are intentionally positioning the victims around themselves to deter security forces.
“The abductors use these children to surround themselves. It is not a conventional war,” Buhari stated. “If you decide to attack, they will kill all the 47 children.”
The Senator further highlighted the immense logistical challenges facing security agencies. He noted that the kidnappers are operating within a massive forest belt that stretches across seven states—Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto—and shares borders with the Republic of Benin and Niger Republic.
“In most cases, these people come into the forest, and it’s very thick, with no beginning and no end. The sad aspect is that they don’t stay in one place; they are constantly moving, making tracking very difficult,” he said.
Buhari also alleged that some of the armed men are foreigners who exploit the forest corridors to enter Nigeria.
The Senator disclosed that a Federal Government delegation has visited the affected communities to offer support. Among those visited was the widow of a man killed during the abduction.
“We appealed to her, and she was begging even if we can just get her the corpse of her husband,” Buhari added, noting that the priority remains a rescue strategy that ensures the pupils’ safety.
