Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that two people were killed after heavily armed gunmen attacked multiple schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, abducting an unspecified number of students and school staff members in a coordinated assault that has triggered widespread fear across the Ogbomoso axis of the state.
The attacks targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School as well as Community Grammar School and LA Primary School in Esiele community, all located within Oriire LGA. Reports indicate that the gunmen stormed the schools during morning academic activities between about 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., firing sporadically and throwing the communities into panic.
According to the police, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and were armed with sophisticated weapons. Some community sources claimed the assailants were more than 30 in number and dressed in military-style camouflage uniforms, a tactic frequently used by criminal gangs and armed groups operating across parts of Nigeria to create confusion and intimidate residents.
The police identified one of the deceased as a teacher and assistant headmaster known simply as Adesiyan, who was reportedly shot during the attack. A commercial motorcyclist was also killed after allegedly resisting attempts by the gunmen to seize his motorcycle during their escape operation.
Authorities confirmed that among those abducted was Alamu Folawe, identified by police as the vice principal of Community Grammar School. Other reports identified the abducted school administrator as Rachael Alamu, described as the principal of the affected secondary school. Police said the exact number of abducted students and staff had not yet been fully established as rescue and verification operations continued Friday night.
Residents said students were holding morning devotion and classes when the gunmen invaded the schools. Witnesses reported hearing repeated gunshots as terrified students fled into nearby bushes and surrounding communities in search of safety.
One local source quoted in reports said the attackers moved directly toward the schools after entering Ahoro-Esiele community, suggesting the operation may have been carefully planned. The assailants reportedly fled toward nearby forest reserves bordering the communities after carrying out the abductions.
Police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka confirmed that tactical units, intelligence teams, operational assets, and security personnel had been deployed immediately after the incident to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodeji, reportedly led security commanders and tactical teams to the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment and operational coordination shortly after the attack.
Police also disclosed that the gunmen seized a Toyota Corolla vehicle belonging to the abducted vice principal before later setting the vehicle ablaze along a road leading into the forest.
The attack prompted immediate action from the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, which ordered the closure of schools across affected and neighbouring local government areas, including Oriire, Surulere, Oyo East, and Olorunsogo LGAs, pending further security assessment.
Nureni Adeniran, chairman of OYOSUBEB, described the incident as a painful tragedy for the state’s education sector and extended condolences to the family of the slain teacher.
The latest attack has intensified concerns over deteriorating security in parts of southwestern Nigeria, where kidnapping gangs have increasingly targeted schools, highways, rural communities, and travellers for ransom operations. Security analysts noted that the use of forest corridors around Oyo, Kwara, and neighbouring states has enabled armed groups to launch rapid attacks before retreating into difficult terrain.
Community leaders and parents expressed outrage over the attack, with many accusing authorities of failing to provide adequate security protection for schools in vulnerable rural communities.
The incident also comes amid rising national concern over recurring school attacks across Nigeria. Previous large-scale abductions in states including Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, and Borno drew international attention and exposed major weaknesses in school security infrastructure.
As of Friday night, no group had officially claimed responsibility for the attack. However, investigators were reportedly examining whether the operation was linked to organised kidnapping syndicates or armed criminal groups active within the region.
Stone Reporters note that authorities had not released the final number of abducted students and staff as rescue efforts and investigations continued across Oriire Local Government Area and surrounding forest zones.
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