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Oyo School Abduction Crisis: Outrage Spreads After Teacher Beheaded.
By Pepper Room Reporter | May 20, 2026

Gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, May 15, 2026, killing a teacher, abducting dozens of pupils and staff, and sparking nationwide outrage.

The Attack
The attackers arrived on motorcycles around 9am, shortly after morning assembly. They struck Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in a coordinated assault.

Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan was shot dead while trying to escape through a window. An okada rider who unknowingly entered the scene was also killed. The principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, was abducted alongside five teachers and at least 39 pupils.

The gunmen used the principal's Toyota Corolla to transport victims, but abandoned and burnt it when the vehicle broke down on rough terrain.

Teacher Beheaded in Captivity
Days after the abduction, reports emerged that one of the kidnapped teachers had been beheaded by the abductors. A distress video showed Principal Alamu pleading for help from captivity, alongside another abductee weeping with a baby on her back.

Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing during a security briefing. "Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, I understand the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists," he said.

Rescue Operations and Casualties
President Bola Tinubu condemned the killing as "barbaric" and vowed to rescue all kidnapped victims. Governor Makinde declared, "We will not give in to terror," and announced sustained security operations.

A joint task force of police, military, Amotekun operatives, and local hunters was deployed. Makinde revealed that rescue teams encountered deadly resistance, including improvised explosive devices. "One of the Amotekun operatives is in a critical condition, while a few soldiers, hunters, and other operatives were wounded," he said.

Reports indicated that three hunters searching for the abducted pupils were killed in the forest during the operation.

Survivors' Ordeal
Survivors recounted hiding in bushes for hours. Parents described frantic searches through forests, finding children's footwear where attackers had passed. The community's traditional ruler, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, said the attackers operated freely because the nearest police station was two hours away.

Government Response
Makinde ordered the closure of schools in Oriire and surrounding areas. He announced daily security briefings and confirmed arrests of suspected informants. "About six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some are believed to be informants or persons providing logistical support," he said.

The governor warned that pressure on terrorists in the North was pushing armed groups southward. "With increased pressure on terrorists and bandits in the North-West and North-East, they will continue to move southwards," he said.

The Bigger Picture
The Oyo attack, combined with a simultaneous abduction in Borno State, signals a terrifying expansion of school kidnappings beyond Nigeria's northern regions. For years, such attacks were concentrated in the North. The Oriire assault proves no state is safe.

The beheading of a teacher raises the stakes. Previous abductions often ended with ransom payments and releases. The brutality shown here suggests a more dangerous phase in the crisis — one where hostages may not survive regardless of negotiations.

For Oyo State, the challenge is immense: secure the release of remaining victims, prevent recurrence in a vast rural area with limited security presence, and restore confidence in a community now gripped by fear.

This has been The Red Hot Report from Pepper-Room. The news that bears it all.
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APC Disqualifies Ex-Governor Ajimobi's Brother in Oyo Senate Primaries.
By Pepper Room Reporter | May 19, 2026

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has disqualified Kolapo Kola-Daisi, a close family member of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, from contesting in the Oyo South senatorial primary. The party also screened out several other aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kola-Daisi, a businessman and entrepreneur, had been hoping to secure the APC ticket for Oyo South. But the party's screening committee, set up by the national leadership, rejected his application. The committee also disqualified Ajimobi Wasiu, the younger brother of the late governor; Faozey Oladotun; Ademola Wasiu Alli; Hussaini Yusuf; Hamed Afeez Repete; and retired Colonel Akinremi Alade.

Party sources said the screening exercise checked the eligibility, loyalty, and general suitability of all aspirants. The committee reviewed complaints and petitions against some candidates before making its decision. A senior party official explained that the goal was to protect the party's integrity and avoid internal crisis before the primaries.

However, supporters of the disqualified aspirants are angry. They described the exercise as unfair and selective. Some accused the party of trying to impose preferred candidates on the people. Loyalists of Kola-Daisi insisted that the process lacked transparency.

This development comes just weeks after Kola-Daisi denied media reports that President Bola Tinubu had asked him to step down from the race. In early May, he insisted that he remained fully committed to contesting for the Oyo South seat under the APC.

Meanwhile, the party has cleared a few aspirants to move forward. Those approved include Hon. Ademola Ararabi for Oyo South, Sen. Yunus Akawasi for Oyo Central, and Olatunji Orebisi for Oyo North.

As of the time of this report, neither the state chapter of the APC nor the disqualified aspirants had issued official public statements. Political observers say the disqualifications could trigger fresh tension within the Oyo APC, especially among loyalists of the late Governor Ajimobi who feel sidelined by the new screening outcome.

The ruling party is working to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, but the removal of prominent names like Kola-Daisi from the race suggests that internal power struggles remain strong in Oyo State.

This has been The Red Hot Report from Pepper-Room. The news that bears it all.

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THE MAMBILLA POWER SCANDAL: How N17 Billion and 40 Years of Promises Left Nigeria in Darkness.

By Investigative Pepper-Room Reporter

The Night Before: A Secret Meeting That Changed Everything.
In May 2003, on the eve of a crucial Federal Executive Council meeting, former President Olusegun Obasanjo summoned his Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, to a private night meeting. What happened there would later become central to one of Nigeria's longest-running corruption trials.

According to testimony from EFCC investigator Umar Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Obasanjo directed Agunloye to add N11 billion to the N6 billion already allocated in the 2003 budget for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

"The former president mentioned it at the Federal Executive Council meeting," Babangida told the court. "However, the details of the discussion of the previous day were not fully given by the former president"0.

40 Years of Darkness: The Project That Never Was.
The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project was conceived over 40 years ago in 1981. It promised to generate 3,960 megawatts of electricity - enough to power millions of homes and transform Nigeria's energy landscape. Instead, it became a symbol of everything wrong with Nigeria's project ex*****on.

Seven companies were screened. Contracts were awarded. Billions of Naira and dollars were approved. Yet today, the project remains stalled - trapped in legal disputes, funding controversies, and corruption allegations.

While politicians debated percentages and equity stakes in air-conditioned offices, millions of Nigerians continue to suffer. They live without electricity. They cannot access good healthcare. They struggle with hunger despite billions approved in their name.

The Courtroom Battle: EFCC vs. Agunloye
Dr. Olu Agunloye now faces trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja. The EFCC has charged him with seven counts including:
- Disobeying presidential directives
- Conspiracy
- Forgery
- Receiving gratification

The prosecution alleges that Agunloye unlawfully awarded the 6 billion contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) and later received N5.212 million through his bank account in 2019 - 16 years after leaving office.

But the defense tells a different story. They argue Agunloye actually saved Nigeria 900 million by reducing government equity participation from 25% (worth 1.5 billion) to between zero and 10% (600 million).

The Obasanjo Factor: Witness or Accused?
The case has taken a dramatic turn with Obasanjo's own involvement under scrutiny. Babangida testified that Obasanjo was eager to kick-start the Mambilla project. The former president even indicated willingness to testify against his former minister. Yet court revelations show contradictions. The defense presented evidence that Obasanjo told the Attorney General that Agunloye never submitted the required memo to FEC - claims the EFCC witness admitted were false.

"Obasanjo's letter distorted the facts," the defense argued, suggesting the former president misled authorities to ensure Agunloye's prosecution.

The Human Cost: While They Played Politics.
This is not just about N11 billion or 6 billion figures in court documents. This is about failure as a way of life. When a project conceived in 1981 remains uncompleted in 2026, it represents generations of broken promises. Children born when feasibility studies began are now middle-aged. Parents who hoped for better lives for their families have passed on without seeing the light - literally and figuratively.

The money approved for Mambilla could have transformed lives. Instead, it disappeared into:
- Legal disputes
- International arbitration
- Court cases
- Administrative costs
And the Nigerian people? They remain in darkness.

A Pattern of Impunity
The Mambilla case reveals a troubling pattern. Billions are approved. Projects stall. Investigations begin. Trials drag on. And nothing changes. From the N6 billion initially appropriated to the additional N11 billion requested, to the 6 billion contract value - each figure represents resources that could have built hospitals, schools, and working power plants.

Yet at the end of the day, as the user's sentiment powerfully expresses: "there is nothing to show for it."

The Judgment That May Come
The trial continues. Justice Onwuegbuzie has adjourned proceedings multiple times as lawyers battle over evidence - including conflicting versions of Executive Council Conclusions tendered by the EFCC itself. Whether Agunloye is convicted or acquitted, one fact remains undeniable: Nigeria lost. The project failed. The money is gone. And the people still suffer.

As one observer noted with righteous anger: "God will certainly punish all the past and present corrupt leaders, the judgement may be delayed but it will not tarry." But divine judgment, if it comes, cannot restore 40 lost years. It cannot bring back the opportunities stolen from millions of Nigerians. It cannot light the homes still living in darkness.

Conclusion: When Failure Becomes a Habit
Failure should be a lesson - a one-time event. In Nigeria's power sector, it has become a tradition. The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project stands as a monument to this culture of non-completion. From Obasanjo's N11 billion directive to Agunloye's alleged disobedience, from FEC meetings to EFCC investigations, every actor played their part in a tragedy that continues today.

Until Nigeria learns to complete what it starts, to hold leaders accountable not just in court but at the ballot box, and to value results over approvals, the darkness will remain. And millions will continue to suffer - waiting for a light that may never come.

This investigation is based on court testimony and official records from the ongoing trial at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

This has been The Red Hot Report from Pepper-Room. The news that bears it all.
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