Witnesses recount how gunmen invaded schools in Oyo, kidnap 45 pupils

Panic and grief have gripped Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after gunmen attacked three schools on Friday morning, abducting dozens of pupils and teachers in a brazen operation that lasted several minutes.

The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School. The attackers reportedly fled with their victims into a nearby forest reserve bordering Oriire communities and the Old Oyo National Park axis.

While figures remain disputed, the traditional ruler of Esiele, the Eleshi Ele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed that about 45 pupils were abducted.

However, a former lawmaker representing Oriire Constituency, Bamigboye Abidoye, said 36 pupils were taken from Baptist Nursery and Primary School alone, with about five teachers abducted from the secondary school.

A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Elizabeth Olagoke, recounted the harrowing experience. She said the attackers arrived at about 8 a.m. on six motorcycles, with two men on each bike.

“The terrorists came around 8am. We had all started the morning session. They came on six motorcycles, and there were two passengers on each bike,” she said.

According to her, the gunmen spoke Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English and were dressed in camouflage uniforms with their faces masked.

“I heard them saying, ‘E ya wolé’ (come in). They started shooting sporadically, and there was pandemonium. They were all masked and dressed in camouflage, and they were young men,” she said.

Olagoke explained that the attackers stormed her classroom first and seized her along with a two-year-old girl she was carrying. She said she pleaded for her life and was eventually allowed to go.

“I started running, and some of them chased after me. I had about 20 children in my kindergarten class. The schoolchildren are from three communities: Yawota, Esinele, and Alausa. In all, they abducted about 48 persons,” she added.

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She further disclosed that the gunmen killed a motorcyclist and stole at least three motorcycles within Yawota community, including one belonging to her husband. The abducted children were reportedly taken away on motorcycles.

Parents also shared accounts of confusion and terror. A mother, Ajarah Ayanwale, said the attackers initially deceived residents by appearing in army uniforms.

“We saw the kidnappers in army uniforms in the morning. We thought they were in the community to protect us. Some of us were even saying, ‘Thank God, we now have security presence in our community,’” she said.

She noted that moments later, gunshots rang out, sending residents fleeing in panic.

“It was when we returned home expecting our children that we realised they had been kidnapped. The government should please help us rescue our children,” she pleaded.

Another parent, Shukurat Pius, said her five-year-old son was among those abducted. She explained that some pupils escaped through classroom windows, but younger children were unable to flee.

“Some of the schoolchildren escaped through the windows, but the little ones who could not run were seized. They were put on motorcycles, and the rest of the children were marched into the forest on foot,” she said.

Nafisat Agunle, whose eight-year-old son in Primary 2 is missing, said she rushed to the school upon hearing gunshots but could not find her child.

“We were at home when we started hearing gunshots around 8am to 9am. Later, we heard gunmen had attacked the primary school,” she said.

Security sources confirmed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack. A senior operative involved in the investigation said the suspects were apprehended in Esiele on Friday and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“Investigation is ongoing, and the public is assured that the schoolchildren and the principal will be rescued unhurt,” the operative said.