The Nigerian military announced on Thursday that the abduction of dozens of students and teachers in Oyo State, southern Nigeria, was carried out by Boko Haram militants.

In an official statement, a military spokesperson confirmed that the perpetrators belonged to the jihadist group Jama’at Ahl al-Sunnah li-l-Da’awah wa al-Jihad (JAS), commonly referred to as Boko Haram. The statement explained that these armed elements had moved southward after being pushed back by intensified military operations in the country’s northern regions.

The attacks occurred last Friday in the towns of Yawota and Esiele, where heavily armed men stormed several educational institutions. Reports on the number of victims vary: the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported 39 children and seven teachers kidnapped, while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde stated that 25 students and seven teachers were abducted.

Security forces are actively searching for the victims, ranging in age from 2 to 16 years, as well as their educators.

While school kidnappings are alarmingly frequent in northern Nigeria, such incidents remain rare in Oyo State, where the capital, Ibadan, serves as a major educational hub in the country.

In response to the surge in violence, the Nigerian military, with assistance from American forces, has stepped up operations against jihadist groups in the north. This increased military pressure has reportedly forced some fighters to relocate toward southern regions.

Recent joint airstrikes in Nigeria’s northeast—a historical stronghold of Boko Haram—have reportedly resulted in the deaths of 175 jihadist fighters, according to military authorities.

Over recent months, armed groups have escalated attacks targeting both civilians and security personnel. Data from SBM Intelligence, a research firm based in Abuja, indicates that 306 Nigerian soldiers were killed in the first quarter of the year alone.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter