WHEN gunmen stormed communities along the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State and abducted pupils and staff from multiple schools on May 15, 2026, families and citizens were thrust into a desperate search for information.
As security agencies launched operations across nearby forests and communities, a parallel battle unfolded online. Social media platforms became flooded with unverified claims, recycled videos and misleading narratives that complicated public understanding of the crisis and amplified fears among already traumatised communities.
The attack, which targeted Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, sparked outrage across the country. Citizens demanded answers from authorities, while protesters called for stronger action to secure the victims’ release and prevent further attacks on schools.
But amid the legitimate public concern, misinformation quickly filled the information vacuum.
One of the most consequential false claims emerged from Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs. In a Facebook post that was later deleted, Fasua claimed that a joint security operation involving 1,000 forest rangers had successfully rescued all the victims and that President Bola Tinubu had already congratulated security agencies for the feat.
The claim was false.
A fact-check by FactCheckHub found no evidence that the victims had been rescued...
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