The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that an unspecified number of students and staff were kidnapped during a coordinated Oyo school abduction in the Oriire Local Government Area on Friday.
Armed gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on three educational facilities in the Ahoro-Esinele community, leaving a teacher and a commercial motorcyclist dead before fleeing into the forest.
Coordinated raids in Oriire Local Government Area
The assailants, who arrived on motorcycles, targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as the shared campus of Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. According to official reports, the gunmen moved through the schools at the same time to prevent an immediate local response.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the details of the raid in an official statement.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the assailants, who operated on motorcycles, simultaneously attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota as well as Community Grammar School/L.A Primary School, Esiele, abducting some pupils, students and staff members including the Vice Principal, Mrs Alamu Folawe,” Ayanlade stated.
Fatalities at Baptist Nursery and Primary School
While no children are currently reported dead, the violence resulted in two adult fatalities. An Assistant Headmaster, identified as Mr Adesiyan, was shot and killed during the assault. Additionally, an “okada” motorcyclist was murdered after he reportedly refused to give up his vehicle to the attackers.
Following the kidnappings at Baptist Nursery and Primary School and the secondary school, the gunmen seized a Toyota Corolla belonging to the abducted Vice Principal, Mrs Folawe. The vehicle was used as a getaway transport before being abandoned and set on fire on a track leading into the forest.
Oyo School Abduction: Police Command begins manhunt
The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, has visited the Ahoro-Esinele community to assess the security situation. The Oyo State Police Command stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the immediate and remote causes of the breach.
“It is important to state that as at the time of filing this report, no pupil or student has been confirmed killed during the incident,” the police statement added.
The Commissioner has ordered security operatives to track the suspects. However, the exact number of victims involved in the Oyo school abduction remains unconfirmed as school authorities and the Oriire Local Government Area officials continue to reconcile their attendance registers.
The police have urged members of the public with any information regarding the whereabouts of the victims or the gunmen to come forward. Security remains tightened across the district as the search for the missing students and staff continues.
