May 18, (THEWILL) — Residents of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are still reeling in shock following Friday’s coordinated attacks on three schools by suspected terrorists and the abduction of no fewer than 45 persons.
The affected schools are Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.
The surprising thing about this event is not that schools have been attacked and the pupils kidnapped by suspected terrorists. Since the Chibok girls, the Dapchi abductions and more of such episodes, terrorists have not stopped attacking schools in vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
What we find surprising is that suddenly there is a switch in the kidnappers’ choice of victims. It appears that young primary schoolchildren are now deemed to have greater value as kidnap victims than grown-ups or what? Why abduct an underage child? For what purpose?
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers, who news reports described as heavily armed and dressed in military camouflage, took some of the abducted schoolchildren away in motorcycles and other vehicles. The rest were forced to trek in the bush to wherever the terrorists were taking them.
Imagine the traumatic experience that those kids would be made to undergo. The long distance, far away from home and familiar surroundings, the thick forests that they would be forced to trek. What will they eat? Shocked, confused and horrified, will they be same when they are eventually found and rescued by security forces?
Nevertheless, help is on the way. The Inspector- General of Police, we gather, has ordered a search and rescue mission to bring back the 48 kidnapped victims.
Also the Commandant of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayanju Olayinka (retd.) reportedly said that operatives had launched coordinated search operations in forests and neighbouring communities.
He said local hunters, vigilantes and other security agencies had joined the rescue mission.
According to him, Amotekun operatives were combing forests and suspected hideouts in collaboration with security stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the abducted children.
Something bad and really sad is about to start trending in this country, we dare say. It must be stopped by all means possible. The government must do everything within its power to put an end to further degradation of the quality of human life in the country.
