Gunmen on Friday, May 15, invaded some schools and surrounding communities, attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota as well as Community Grammar School/L.A Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting a Vice Principal, identified as Mrs. Alamu Folawe, and an unspecified number of pupils, students and staff of the schools in a fresh wave of insecurity targeting educational institutions.
The attack occurred between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. when armed men, who operated on motorcycles reportedly stormed the premises and whisked away the victims to an unknown destination.
During the attack, an Assistant Headmaster, identified as Mr. Adesiyan, was killed while an okada rider who reportedly resisted attempts by the attackers to forcefully take his motorcycle was also shot dead.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said that the attackers, after abducting the victims, also took away a Toyota Corolla vehicle belonging to the abducted Vice Principal and later set the vehicle ablaze along the road leading to the forest.
According to the PPRO, security operatives have launched efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the attackers.
He also said that the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, immediately led operatives alongside other service commanders to the scene for on-the-spot assessment and operational coordination.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the safety of schools and students in parts of Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom and attacks on communities have continued despite ongoing security operations.
