Condemnations have continued to trail Friday’s bandits’ attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where about 30 students and teachers were kidnapped, while two persons were killed.
The attack, which occurred on May 16, saw armed bandits storm Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, abducting staff, students and pupils.
Public outrage intensified after a viral video surfaced on Monday showing one of the abducted teachers being beheaded by the attackers. The victim was later identified as Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher.
Amid widespread anger, Nigerians have continued to call on both the state and federal governments to take urgent steps to secure the release of the abducted teachers and students.
Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed that seven students were abducted from Community Secondary School, while 18 children and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School. He also confirmed that one person was killed during the attack.
Makinde stated that the state government was willing to listen to the abductors’ grievances if it would aid the safe return of the victims.
According to him, security agencies have intensified rescue operations, while some operational details remain undisclosed due to the sensitive nature of the mission.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric. He expressed sympathy to the Oyo State Government and families of the victims, assuring Nigerians that security agencies were working to rescue the abductees.
The President disclosed that the Inspector General of Police was coordinating a technology-driven rescue operation involving tactical and intelligence units. He also reiterated the need for state police to address security gaps in underserved areas.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Fred Emuobo, relocated the command’s operational headquarters to Ogbomoso to coordinate the rescue mission.
Police authorities confirmed that six suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident. The suspects, believed to be informants, were allegedly tracked through phone conversations with the abductors and are currently assisting ongoing investigations.
Security operatives comprising the Nigerian Army, Police, Amotekun, NSCDC and Agro-Rangers were said to be involved in the operation.
The Oyo State Police Command also disclosed that the viral video showing the alleged beheading of a teacher was undergoing forensic examination to verify its authenticity and aid investigations.
Teachers in Oriire Local Government Area staged a peaceful protest on Monday, calling on the government and security agencies to ensure the safe release of their colleagues and students.
Many schools in the area remained deserted as fear spread across affected communities.
In separate viral videos, some abducted victims appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, religious organisations and Nigerians to intervene and secure their release.
The victims pleaded for urgent action, expressing fears for their safety and that of the children in captivity.
Traditional rulers and religious leaders also condemned the attack.
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, described the incident as heartbreaking and unacceptable, calling for intensified rescue efforts and improved security around schools and rural communities.
Similarly, the Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, urged the Federal Government to empower traditional rulers with security support and logistics to strengthen local security responses.
The Christian Association of Nigeria also condemned the abduction, describing it as a national disgrace and warning against the spread of organised criminal violence into the South-West.
The association called for immediate and coordinated action to rescue the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Several political figures and stakeholders also decried the attack, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable, while urging security agencies to intensify rescue operations.
Governor Makinde further disclosed that surveillance aircraft procured by the state government had arrived in Nigeria and were undergoing installation and testing ahead of deployment for enhanced border monitoring and security operations.
He assured residents that his administration remained committed to protecting lives and property across the state and restoring normalcy to the affected communities.
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