Oyo Govt Promises Safe Rescue Of 46 Abducted Pupils, Teachers

Oyo State government has assured the public and affected families that it is making frantic efforts with the security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of victims abducted during the recent invasion of communities in Oriire local government area of Oyo State by bandits.

The bandits attacked schools and communities in Oriire Council, where some residents were killed while several others were abducted.

The state government said that the suspected kidnappers involved in the attack had been effectively confined within the National Park corridor following coordinated security operations aimed at blocking escape routes into neighbouring states.

The commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said in a statement that security operatives had surrounded the area, restricting the suspects’ movement and preventing possible escape into Kwara State and other neighbouring states.

According to him, the attack on LA School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, led to the killing of a teacher and the abduction of some pupils, including the principal, two vice principals, and three teachers.

The commissioner disclosed that one motorcycle rider and one teacher were shot during the incident, while the injured teacher later died.

He explained that security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, the Nigeria Police Force, and officers from the Monitoring Unit, were immediately mobilised for rescue operations. At the same time, the Commissioner of Police also directed the Anti-Kidnapping Squad to join the operation.

Oyelade revealed that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State coordinated with his counterpart in Kwara State to strengthen surveillance along border communities and prevent suspects from escaping across state lines.

He added that patrol operations involving Amotekun operatives and local hunters from seven local government areas in Oke-Ogun commenced following intelligence reports indicating that the suspects remained within the National Park axis.

While noting that there had been no direct contact with the abductors, Oyelade said authorities were still working to determine the exact number of abducted pupils, as school authorities were yet to provide accurate records of missing children.

“This has made the rescue operation more difficult. What we are trying to do now is locate their position and apply pressure,” the commissioner stated.

He assured residents that security personnel remained actively engaged in the rescue operation and expressed confidence that sustained pressure on the suspects would aid the safe release of the abducted victims.

Sources within the affected communities disclosed that a total of 46 persons were abducted during the coordinated attacks carried out across schools and residential settlements in the area.

The victims, according to findings, comprise seven teachers and 39 pupils who the gunmen forcefully took away during the raid.

It was gathered that pupils from ages two to eight were abducted during the attack.

The following teachers were reportedly abducted: Mrs Alamu Fplawe, Principal, Community High School; Mr Ojo Jonayhan, vice principal; Mr Olatunde Zacchaeus, Teacher; Mr John Olaleye, Teacher; Mr Michael Oyedokun, Teacher;   Mrs Oladeji, Teacher; and Mary Alanbi, Teacher, Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.

The underlisted students/pupils were also abducted from different communities within Oriire Local Government: Ahoro-Esinele Community: Rashida Tajudeen, 11 years; Ahmed Ramoni, 8 years; Badsalam Toyib, 4 years; Baraka Abioye, 16 years; Fatimo Jimoh, 15 years; Hassan Azeez, 14 years; and Joshua Adeleke, 13 years.

These were the names of pupils abducted from Yawota Community: Samuel Oyedele, 7 years, Emmanuel Oyedele, 4 years, Idowu Taiwo, 4 years, Christianah Akanbi,  2 years, Juwon Sinday, 7 years, Sikiru Salami, 3 years, Soliu Salami, 4 years, Ojo Joseph, 8 years, Lydia Adewole, 8 years, Testimony Jacob, 5 years and Kehinde Kaosara, 7 years.

Others were Sewa Seyi, 7 years old; Waliya Bello, 4 years old; Lydia Olohunloluwa, 7 years old; Damilare Oderinde, 8 years old; Deborah Adebowale, 5 years old; Aisha Oguntowo, 10 years old; Lege Taiwo, 12 years old; Balkis Ayanwale, 8 years old; and Asa David, 10 years old.

Those abducted from Oniya Community were Shuaibu Aliyu, 10 years, Ahmed Aliyu, 7 years, Muiz Aliyu, 5 years and Jomiloju Ogunlola, 6 years.

Those adopted from the Alawusa Community were Agune Noah (8 years old), Elizabeth Abadi (5 years old), Tosin Abadi (9 years old), Pius Stephen (5 years old), Hannah Ojo (14 years old), Habidat Ayanwale (7 years old), and Mary Gabriel (6 years old).

Meanwhile, the abducted Oyo School Principal has urged the federal government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and others to intervene in a distress video.

In the video sighted on Sunday, Mrs Alamu, identified as the Vice Principal of the school, appealed to the federal government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure their release.

Speaking from captivity, the visibly distressed school administrator said she and several students and staff members had remained with their abductors since the attack on Friday.

“I am Mrs Alamu. I am the principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State. On Friday around 9:30, we were attacked by a certain group of people and a good number of us were abducted, the staff and the students as well, and we have been here since Friday,” she said.

She pleaded with authorities to ensure a peaceful resolution to prevent loss of lives.

“Today, I am making this video to ask for help from everyone, starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oyo State Government, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all well-meaning Nigerians, that they should come to our help and settle this thing peacefully so that our lives will not be lost,” she added.