Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
IBADAN, Nigeria – In a major security development, suspected kidnappers who raided two schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been effectively cornered within the rugged corridor of the Old Oyo National Park. The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, announced on Saturday, May 16, 2026, that a large‑scale, multi‑agency security operation has sealed off all escape routes, preventing the abductors from fleeing into neighbouring Kwara State or other locations.
The coordinated assault on Friday, May 15, targeted LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in the Ahoro‑Esinele community. According to police reports, the armed men, who arrived on motorcycles, simultaneously attacked the schools, abducting pupils, students, and staff members. The attackers shot and killed an assistant headmaster, Mr. Adesiyan Joel, and a commercial motorcyclist who reportedly resisted attempts to snatch his bike. The assailants also abducted the school’s vice principal, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, and took her Toyota Corolla, which they later set ablaze along the forest road.
Commissioner Oyelade stated that immediately after the attack, which occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday, security agencies were mobilised for rescue operations. “The suspected bandits have been effectively confined within the National Park axis, following coordinated security operations aimed at preventing their movement into neighbouring states,” he said. The operation involves the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Civil Defence Agro Rangers, and the Amotekun Corps. The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, has activated the Anti‑Kidnapping Squad and coordinated with his counterpart in Kwara State to block cross‑border escape attempts.
Three separate patrol teams, comprising Amotekun operatives and local hunters drawn from seven local government areas in the Oke‑Ogun region, have been deployed through Igbeti towards Oloka and adjoining communities. Commissioner Oyelade noted that while direct contact with the abductors has not yet been established, intelligence indicates the suspects remain trapped within the park. “Security operatives have successfully surrounded the area, restricting the suspects’ movement and preventing possible escape into Kwara State or other neighbouring locations,” he said.
One of the major challenges facing the rescue effort is the lack of accurate school records, which has made it difficult to confirm the exact number of missing pupils. “This has made the rescue operation more difficult. What we are trying to do now is locate their position and apply pressure,” Oyelade said. The state government has also directed all primary schools in neighbouring communities, including Surulere, Oyo East, Oriire, and Olorunsogo, to vacate immediately as a precautionary measure against further attacks.
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) expressed deep sympathy with the affected families and assured parents that security operatives were working tirelessly to secure the safe return of the abducted victims. Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of the Board, described the incident as a painful moment for the education sector in the state.
Commissioner Oyelade highlighted the state’s investment in security infrastructure, noting that the Amotekun Corps currently operates 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles, and over 2,500 personnel across Oyo State. He reiterated the government’s commitment to rescuing the abducted victims and restoring normalcy to affected communities.
The rescue operation is ongoing, with security forces maintaining intense pressure on the trapped suspects. As the search continues, the people of Ahoro‑Esinele and the entire Oke‑Ogun region wait in anxious hope for the safe return of the children, teachers, and staff taken during the brazen attack.
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