Tension has engulfed Ahoro-Esiele community in Oyo State following a deadly attack by suspected terrorists and armed bandits who stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, killing a teacher and abducting several pupils, students and school workers.
The coordinated attack occurred on Friday morning at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esiele, all located within the Oriire axis of the state.
Residents said the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles in large numbers, invaded the communities between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., firing sporadically and causing panic among teachers, pupils and villagers.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the gunmen moved swiftly from one school to another, abducting an unspecified number of pupils and staff members before escaping through nearby forest routes. Some reports initially claimed that about 45 pupils were kidnapped, though security agencies and state authorities said the exact number of victims was still being verified as of press time.
The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, identified as Joel Adesiyan, was reportedly shot dead while attempting to escape from the attackers through a classroom window. An unidentified commercial motorcyclist was also said to have been killed after unknowingly riding into the scene of the attack.
Among those abducted was the principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, alongside several teachers and pupils. Residents said the attackers initially fled with the victims in the principal’s vehicle before abandoning and setting the vehicle ablaze after it reportedly developed a mechanical fault along a difficult route leading toward a forest reserve.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Eleshi Ele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed the incident, stating that the attackers arrived on about eight motorcycles carrying heavily armed men.
“We were holding a town hall meeting when we suddenly heard gunshots everywhere. People started running for safety. Later, we discovered that the schools had been attacked and several pupils abducted,” the monarch reportedly said.
Following the attack, many residents reportedly fled their homes over fears of another invasion, while parents besieged the affected schools in search of their children.
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board confirmed the incident and described it as “a dark and painful moment” for the state’s education sector. The Board’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, said security agencies had launched rescue operations and tactical deployments across the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force said the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State had ordered an intensive manhunt for the attackers. Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed that security operatives had been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and restore calm.
As fear spreads across neighbouring communities, authorities have temporarily shut down some schools in Oriire, Surulere, Oyo East and Olorunsogo local government areas pending improvement in security conditions.
