May 15, (THEWILL) — Gunmen on Friday, invaded LA School and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing a teacher and abducting the school principal alongside an unspecified number of students in a fresh wave of insecurity that has heightened tension across the state.
The attack, which occurred between 8 and 9am, reportedly threw the communities into panic as the assailants stormed the schools while students were preparing to perform a song during a school activity.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the armed men invaded the Ahoro-Esinle area and whisked away the principal, Mrs Rachael Alamu, along with several students.
According to the police spokesman, security agencies have launched an operation to rescue the victims and track down the attackers.
Residents said the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately during the invasion, leading to the death of a teacher. Although the police had yet to officially confirm the fatality at the time of filing this report, the Oyo State education authorities acknowledged the teacher’s death in subsequent statements.
Following the attack, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) ordered the immediate closure of schools in parts of the affected region to safeguard pupils and staff from further attacks.
Chairman of the board, Omowumi Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and conveyed condolences to the families of those affected.
The board noted that the exact number of abducted students had yet to be ascertained, stressing that efforts were ongoing to obtain accurate figures and secure the safe return of all victims.
The closure affects primary schools in Surulere, Ila-Orangun, Oriire and Olorunsogo local government areas and surrounding communities.
OYOSUBEB stated that security operatives had already commenced coordinated search-and-rescue operations in nearby forests and hideouts where the abductors were suspected to have taken the victims.
As of Friday evening, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack, while security forces continued combing the forests in search of the kidnapped principal and students.
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