Panic spread across communities in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday after armed attackers launched a coordinated assault on three schools, leaving an assistant headteacher dead, several pupils and teachers abducted, and residents fleeing in fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The affected institutions were Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers struck in the morning hours when school activities were underway, arriving on motorcycles and firing sporadically as they moved between the schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents described the operation as highly coordinated, with the armed men reportedly hitting the schools almost at the same time and preventing any immediate response. Many pupils and teachers were forced to escape into nearby bushes for safety as gunshots rang out across the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the attack, the assistant headteacher of L.A. Primary School, identified as Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape through a window. His death has been described as a tragic loss to the local education community. In another unfortunate incident, a commercial motorcyclist who unknowingly entered the scene was also killed after getting caught in the crossfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attackers reportedly abducted the principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, along with five teachers and an unspecified number of pupils. Community members said the assailants moved quickly from classroom to classroom, taking victims away before escaping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also reports that the principal\u2019s vehicle was used to transport some of the abducted victims. However, the vehicle later broke down on a difficult route, after which it was abandoned and set on fire by the attackers, further heightening tension in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traditional authorities confirmed that the gunmen arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and disrupted a town meeting before storming the schools. According to local accounts, even very young pupils were among those taken, though the exact number of abducted children remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security response was delayed due to the distance of the nearest police formation from the affected communities. Officials noted that it took about two hours for security operatives to arrive after the attackers had already fled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assailants were said to have escaped into a nearby forest reserve linking parts of the Old Oyo National Park axis, prompting a joint search-and-rescue operation by security forces, including police and military personnel. The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that tactical teams were deployed immediately to track the attackers and rescue the victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the incident, many residents fled their homes, while others remained uncertain about the safety and whereabouts of their relatives, especially missing pupils. Local authorities and community leaders expressed concern over the difficulty of the terrain, which is believed to have aided the attackers\u2019 escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to the attack, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board ordered the temporary closure of schools in Oriire and neighbouring local government areas to prevent further security risks while operations continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security agencies have continued combing the forested areas believed to be the escape route of the attackers, while anxiety persists across affected communities as families await news of abducted relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a related development, a separate school attack was reported in Mussa community near the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, where armed men also disrupted school activities and abducted an unspecified number of pupils. Authorities are still gathering details of the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both incidents have renewed concerns over the safety of schools in rural and remote areas, where armed groups continue to exploit weak security presence and difficult terrain to carry out abductions and attacks.