A farmer, Michael Ojo, whose four children, daughter-in-law and grandchild were abducted during the recent attacks on schools in Oyo State, has narrated how armed men invaded two communities and forced pupils into a forest reserve.
Ojo said the attackers stormed schools in Esiele and Yawota communities in a coordinated operation, shooting as residents, pupils, and teachers ran for safety.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, the distraught farmer said the attack on the secondary school in Esiele turned deadly shortly after the gunmen arrived.
According to him, the gunmen killed a primary school teacher during the attack on the school.
“The principal of the community secondary school is a woman. When the kidnappers entered the school, they killed one primary school teacher while people were running everywhere in panic,” Ojo said.
He said the attackers later gathered some children and forced the female principal to move them towards the forest in her car.
Ojo stated, “After gathering the children, they forced the principal to drive her Corolla car while they packed the children inside the vehicle. That was how they moved the children into the forest reserve.
“After that community, there is no settlement again until deep inside the reserve. That is how massive the forest is.”
Gunmen Disguised In Uniforms
Ojo said the attackers who invaded Yawota allegedly disguised themselves in military uniforms to deceive residents before launching the assault.
He stated, “For the Yawota community, the kidnappers were about eight in number. Some wore army uniforms while two others wore jalabiya.
“The whole community was quiet because most residents had already gone to their farms. Suddenly, we started hearing loud gunshots from inside the primary school.”
The farmer also narrated how a local tailor became one of the early victims of the attack.
Ojo said, “One commercial motorcyclist brought a tailor to the school because he usually sews clothes for the pupils.
“The motorcyclist parked his bike and stepped down to greet some friends in front of the school. The tailor even warned him not to go far because he would finish quickly.
“But as he attempted to run after the shooting started, the gunmen shot him dead.”
Pupils Jumped Through Windows
Ojo said some older pupils escaped by jumping through windows, while others were captured by the gunmen.
He said, “When the kidnappers selected the children they wanted to take, some of the older children jumped through the windows and escaped. But not all of them succeeded because some were caught while trying to escape.
“As they marched the children away alongside my daughter-in-law, the kidnappers kept shouting at them to run while firing gunshots into the air. They followed the children closely from behind.”
He said the heavy shooting prevented residents from coming out of their homes during the attack.
Ojo said, “Even those of us inside our houses that morning could not come out because of the shooting.
“The kidnappers took the children through a bush path connecting back to Esiele community.”
Ojo added that the attackers stole motorcycles belonging to villagers while retreating into the forest.
“Any motorcycle they found on the road, they took it away. They even stole the vulcaniser’s motorcycle parked directly opposite my house,” he said.