“45 Pupils Abducted” — Panic As Gunmen Attack Schools In Oyo Communities

No fewer than 45 pupils have reportedly been abducted after armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday morning.

The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed the communities around 8am on motorcycles, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents, teachers, and pupils.

A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Elizabeth Olagoke, said the gunmen were masked, dressed in camouflage, and spoke Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English during the attack.

She explained that the assailants moved from classroom to classroom, abducting children and some teachers before fleeing through nearby forest routes linking the communities to the Old Oyo National Park axis.

Residents said many of the kidnapped children were taken away on motorcycles, while others were marched into the forest on foot.

Traditional rulers and community leaders confirmed that several pupils and teachers remain missing as security operatives continue rescue efforts.

Following the incident, security agencies reportedly launched coordinated operations around the forest reserve areas, while patrol teams involving the police, Amotekun Corps, hunters, and other security outfits were deployed to prevent the attackers from escaping.

The attack has triggered fresh fears across the South-West, with security concerns growing in several states over increasing cases of kidnappings and armed attacks on communities and schools.

ALSO READ: 17 Police Officers Killed As Terrorists Attack Army Training School In Yobe