Panic swept through parts of Oyo State on Friday after armed men invaded three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, killing a teacher and abducting several pupils and staff members in a coordinated daytime attack.
The gunmen reportedly stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, throwing the communities into confusion as parents and residents fled for safety.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived around 9am on motorcycles and began shooting shortly after pupils assembled for morning activities. Residents described the incident as one of the boldest attacks recorded in the area in recent years.
According to community sources, the assailants moved swiftly between the schools and surrounding areas without resistance, forcing teachers and pupils to run into nearby bushes.
A resident said the attackers operated in groups and invaded the schools almost at the same time.
“They came with motorcycles and guns. People started running immediately they began shooting. They moved from one school to another very fast,” the resident said.
The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed during the attack. Eyewitnesses said he was trying to escape when he was shot.
His death has left teachers and residents in mourning, with many describing him as a committed education worker who had served the community for years.
Another victim, an okada rider, was reportedly killed after he unknowingly rode into the area during the attack.
The attackers also abducted 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 gunmen entered classrooms and moved victims out quickly before escaping through remote routes linked to nearby forests.
One source within the community said some of the abducted victims were transported in the principal’s vehicle.
According to the resident, the vehicle later developed a fault while the attackers attempted to flee through rough terrain.
“They used the principal’s car to move some of the victims, but the vehicle stopped working on the road. They abandoned it and set it on fire before escaping,” the source said.
The burning vehicle reportedly heightened fear in the area, with many residents abandoning their homes over fears of another attack.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Eleshi Ele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed the incident and said the attackers arrived on eight motorcycles carrying armed men.
The monarch said the attack began while community leaders were holding a town meeting.
“We suddenly heard gunshots and people started running. Later, we discovered the schools had been attacked and some pupils and teachers taken away,” he said.
Oba Abioye lamented that even young children in nursery and primary classes were affected.
“They took very small children too. We are still trying to know the exact number of those abducted,” the monarch added.
He blamed the scale of the attack on the absence of nearby security formations, saying security operatives arrived almost two hours after the gunmen had escaped.
Residents also raised concerns over growing insecurity around communities linked to forest corridors and isolated rural roads.
Following the attack, security operatives launched a search-and-rescue operation in forests around the Oriire axis and areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
Police tactical teams and military personnel were deployed to the area on Friday as efforts intensified to rescue the victims and track down the attackers.
The Chairman of Oriire Local Government Area, Michael Olateju, confirmed that the gunmen entered through the Yawota axis, describing the terrain as difficult to access.
He said the attackers operated in an organised manner and exploited the remoteness of the communities.
A former lawmaker representing Oriire Constituency, Bamigboye Abidoye, called for the establishment of a military base around the affected communities to prevent future attacks.
He said the proximity of the communities to forest reserves had made them vulnerable to criminal groups operating in the region.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board described the incident as tragic and announced the temporary closure of schools in Oriire and neighbouring local government areas, including Surulere, Oyo East and Olorunsogo.
The measure, according to authorities, is aimed at protecting pupils and allowing security agencies stabilise the affected communities.