RismadarVoice Reporters
May 17, 2026
A wave of grief and panic swept through communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after armed attackers stormed three schools on Friday and abducted more than 45 pupils and several teachers in a coordinated assault.
The affected schools include Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School. Residents said the attackers invaded the schools during morning classes, firing gunshots and forcing pupils and teachers away from the premises.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who arrived on motorcycles and wore camouflage uniforms, spoke Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin English during the operation. A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Elizabeth Olagoke, said the gunmen invaded the school at about 8 a.m., causing panic among pupils and staff.
According to her, the attackers moved from classroom to classroom, firing sporadically before taking away children and teachers. She said some pupils escaped, while others were seized and forced onto motorcycles or marched away.
“The situation was terrifying. We all started running for safety. Some children escaped, but many were taken away,” she said.
Traditional ruler of Esiele community, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed that at least 45 pupils were abducted. At the same time, a former lawmaker representing Oriire Constituency, Bamigboye Abidoye, disclosed that 36 pupils were taken from Baptist Nursery and Primary School alone, with additional teachers reportedly missing.
Distraught parents described scenes of confusion and heartbreak as they searched for their children after the attack.
One of the parents, Ajarah Ayanwale, said residents initially mistook the attackers for security personnel because they wore military uniforms.
“We thought they had come to protect us. It was only after we heard gunshots that we realised something was wrong,” she said.
Another mother, Shukurat Pius, whose five-year-old son was among the victims, said some children managed to flee through windows while younger pupils who could not escape were captured.
Parents also recounted seeing the attackers transport some children on motorcycles while others were led into nearby forests.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified rescue operations around the National Park axis and forest areas believed to be possible escape routes for the abductors.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said combined security teams involving the Nigerian Army, Police, Amotekun Corps and local hunters had surrounded the area and restricted movement around suspected locations.
He disclosed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack, while efforts continued to determine the exact number of victims and secure the safe return of those abducted.
