- Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the communities around 9am on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately
- Residents described the incident as one of the boldest assaults on schools in the area in recent years
- attackers moved swiftly between the schools, causing widespread panic as students and teachers ran into nearby bushes for safety
Panic swept through parts of Oyo State on Friday after armed terrorists launched coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, killing a school administrator, abducting teachers and pupils, and forcing residents to flee their communities.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the affected schools included Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Fani-Kayode, Omokri Oppose Return Of Power To North Before 2031, Endorse Tinubu For 2027
- Putin defends Ukraine war amid NATO aggression claims
- Epe Stakeholders Unite in Massive Endorsement for Wale Raji, Tobun, Tinubu, Others
Residents described the incident as one of the boldest assaults on schools in the area in recent years, with the attackers reportedly operating openly during school hours.
Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the communities around 9am on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately shortly after pupils assembled for classes.
According to locals, the attackers moved swiftly between the schools, causing widespread panic as students and teachers ran into nearby bushes for safety.
During the attack, the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while attempting to escape through a window.
An okada rider was also reportedly killed after unknowingly entering the area during the violence.
Community sources said the terrorists kidnapped the principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, alongside five teachers and several pupils whose exact number had yet to be confirmed as of Friday night.
Residents said the attackers moved from classroom to classroom before fleeing with their victims.
It was gathered that the gunmen used the principal’s vehicle to transport some abducted victims before abandoning and setting it ablaze after it reportedly developed mechanical problems while escaping through rough terrain.
The traditional ruler of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers arrived on eight motorcycles carrying armed men.
According to the monarch, the attack happened while a town meeting was ongoing, throwing the community into confusion.
He lamented the delayed arrival of security personnel, stating that it took nearly two hours for police officers to reach the scene because the nearest station was far from the affected communities.
Following the attack, the assailants reportedly escaped into forest areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park axis.
Security agencies, including the police and military, subsequently launched search-and-rescue operations across the surrounding forests.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Ayodeji Abimbola, was said to have led tactical teams to the area, while military personnel intensified efforts to track the kidnappers.
Residents, however, expressed fears of further attacks, with many families abandoning their homes amid uncertainty over the fate of missing children and teachers.
One resident said his 16-year-old niece, a JSS2 student, had not been seen since she left for school earlier that morning, leaving the family in distress.
In response to the incident, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board ordered the temporary closure of schools in Oriire and neighbouring local government areas, including Surulere, Oyo East and Olorunsogo.
Authorities said the shutdown was necessary to protect pupils and allow security agencies stabilise the affected communities.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the deaths of the assistant headmaster and the motorcyclist, while noting that no pupil had been officially confirmed dead at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, another school attack was reported in Mussa community near the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, where gunmen allegedly abducted an unspecified number of pupils on Friday morning.
The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, confirmed the incident, saying several students fled into nearby bushes during the attack.
Youth leader Samaila Kaigama also alleged that the attackers stormed the school without resistance and took away some primary school pupils.
The police in Borno State said they were still verifying details of the incident.
The attacks in Oyo and Borno have once again raised concerns over growing insecurity around schools in Nigeria, years after major abductions in places such as Chibok, Niger and Kebbi states.
FURTHER READING
