Mothers Wail as Gunmen Abduct Scores of Oyo Pupils

Parents in parts of Oyo State are in anguish after armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of pupils and teachers in what authorities describe as one of the most disturbing school attacks in the South-West in recent years.

According to reports by punch, no fewer than 45 pupils were taken during Friday’s coordinated assault on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.

Witnesses said the attackers stormed the communities on motorcycles around 8am, firing sporadically and forcing terrified children into nearby forests and vehicles.

A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Elizabeth Olagoke, recounted the chaos that unfolded during the raid.

“They came on motorcycles, speaking Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin English. They were masked and dressed in camouflage. There was panic everywhere,” she said.

Olagoke said the attackers entered classrooms and seized pupils, while some children escaped through windows and surrounding bushes.

“The little ones who could not run were taken away,” she added.

Traditional ruler of the community, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed that dozens of children were missing, while local leaders said efforts were ongoing to secure their release.

Former lawmaker Bamigboye Abidoye said at least 36 pupils were abducted from one school alone, with several teachers also reportedly taken.

Parents Describe Fear and Trauma

Distraught parents spoke of confusion and heartbreak as gunfire echoed across the communities.

One mother, Ajarah Ayanwale, said residents initially mistook the attackers for security operatives because they wore military-style uniforms.

“We thought they had come to protect us,” she said. “Then suddenly we started hearing gunshots.”

Another parent, Shukurat Pius, whose five-year-old son was abducted, said some children escaped by jumping through windows while younger pupils were captured.

“They forced some onto motorcycles and marched others into the forest,” she said.

Several parents appealed to authorities to rescue the children alive, describing sleepless nights and emotional trauma since the incident.

Security Agencies Launch Rescue Operations

The Oyo State Government said security operatives had surrounded suspected escape routes around the Old Oyo National Park axis.

State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said combined teams of the Nigerian Army, police, Amotekun Corps, hunters and Agro Rangers had launched coordinated rescue operations.

According to officials, three suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, while surveillance has intensified across nearby forests and border communities.

Authorities also confirmed collaboration with neighbouring Kwara State security agencies to prevent the abductors from escaping across state lines.

South-West Leaders Raise Alarm

The attack has heightened fears about growing insecurity in Nigeria’s South-West region.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, warned that criminal groups were increasingly infiltrating states across the region.

Speaking to Punch, Adams said recent incidents in Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo suggested armed groups were “testing the waters.”

“We have not seen anything yet,” he warned, while calling for stronger collaboration between governments and local security outfits.

Governments in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states have since announced heightened security measures, including increased patrols, border surveillance and intelligence gathering around schools and vulnerable communities.

Officials in several states also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agencies.

The incident has renewed national concerns about attacks on schools and the safety of children in rural communities, with parents and local leaders demanding urgent and decisive action from authorities.

Source: punch