Police Confirm Abduction Of Principal, Students In Oyo, CP Leads Manhunt
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — THE Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of a school principal and several students following coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when armed men reportedly invaded communities in Ahoro-Esiele axis of the local government area, attacking schools and abducting pupils, students and members of staff.
Initial reports indicated that the attackers stormed Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., where they abducted the school principal and an unspecified number of students.
A community source disclosed that the gunmen whisked away the principal, identified as Mrs. Rachael Alamu, alongside some students, while a teacher was reportedly shot during the attack.
The extent of the teacher’s injury could not immediately be confirmed.
The attackers were said to have fled the scene through a forest reserve bordering the community after escaping with the principal’s vehicle.
Residents lamented the delayed response from security agencies, attributing it to the distance of the nearest police station from the affected community.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the exact number of abducted victims had yet to be ascertained.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Command disclosed that the attackers operated on motorcycles and simultaneously attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as Community Grammar School and L.A Primary School, Esiele.
According to the statement, some pupils, students and staff members, including the Vice Principal, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, were abducted during the attacks.
The police, however, clarified that no pupil or student had been confirmed dead as of the time of filing the report.
The statement added that one Assistant Headmaster identified as Mr. Adesiyan was killed during the incident, while an okada rider was also reportedly shot dead after resisting attempts by the attackers to seize his motorcycle.
“The attackers, after abducting some victims, also took away a Toyota Corolla vehicle belonging to the abducted Vice Principal and later set the vehicle ablaze along the road leading to the forest,” the statement noted.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, was said to have led a team of operatives and other security commanders to the affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment and operational coordination.
The police further stated that tactical teams, intelligence units and other operational assets had been deployed to the area to ensure the rescue of the abducted victims and the arrest of those responsible for the attacks.
“The Command assures residents that intensive operations are ongoing and urges members of the public to remain calm, vigilant and supportive by providing timely and credible information that could aid the investigation and rescue efforts,” the statement added.