Teacher Killed, 45+ Pupils Abducted in Oyo School Attacks

Armed terrorists killed a teacher and abducted over 45 pupils in a coordinated attack on three schools in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area on Friday, throwing entire communities into chaos and forcing authorities to shut down schools across the region.

The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while trying to escape through a window during the assault. An okada rider who unknowingly rode into the scene was also killed in the crossfire.

The attackers struck Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School in quick succession around 9am, operating in broad daylight on motorcycles. They abducted the principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, alongside five teachers and dozens of pupils.

Traditional Ruler Describes Chaos

The traditional ruler of the community, the Eleshi Ele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed that the terrorists arrived on eight motorcycles, each carrying two armed men. He said the attack began while a town meeting was ongoing.

“We were having a town hall meeting when we suddenly heard gunshots. People started running in all directions. Later, we discovered they had attacked the schools, killed a teacher and abducted pupils and the principal,” he said.

Oba Abioye lamented that the absence of a nearby police station contributed to the scale of destruction, saying it took security operatives nearly two hours to arrive after the attack had already been carried out.

Security Forces Close In

Following the attack, the assailants fled into a nearby forest reserve bordering Oriire communities and the Old Oyo National Park axis. Security agencies, including police and military, launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

As of Sunday morning, the Oyo State Government confirmed that hunters and security operatives have surrounded the gunmen and blocked escape routes. Schools across the area have been closed indefinitely as a precautionary measure.

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Abimbola, was said to have led a team of tactical officers to the area shortly after the incident. Military personnel were deployed to comb the forest in search of the abductors.

The incident marks another grim addition to Nigeria’s catalogue of school attacks, with the Southwest region increasingly experiencing the kind of violence that has long plagued northern states.

Sources: Punch, The Nation, Sahara Reporters, Premium Times