Residents of communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State continue to grapple with fear and uncertainty following the coordinated attack on three schools in Ahoro-Esin-Ile, Yawota, and Alawusa on May 15, 2026. Survivors and relatives of abducted victims have shared harrowing accounts of the incident, which disrupted examinations and left families devastated.
One of the survivors, Aminat, recalled that the attack began while students were writing examinations. Speaking about her ordeal, she said gunshots suddenly erupted within the school premises, forcing pupils and teachers to flee into nearby bushes in search of safety.
According to her, the chaos that followed led to many students becoming separated from their families. She revealed that her elder brother remains missing despite extensive searches by relatives and community members.
The attack has left many parents in anguish. Aminat’s mother, Mama Muheez, said her eight-year-old son, Abdulraman, was among those abducted. She described the emotional toll of the incident, noting that she has struggled to eat or sleep since learning of her son’s disappearance. She added that her remaining children are too frightened to return to school.
As security operatives and volunteers launched rescue efforts, another tragedy occurred when Shuaibu Adigun, a resident involved in the search operation, was killed after stepping on an explosive device allegedly planted by the attackers along access routes. His brother, Adigun Michael, said the deceased, who worked at the national park, left behind a wife and children.
Community leaders described the incident as unprecedented. The Mogaji of the area, Yekini Abioye, said residents were shocked when gunfire erupted around 9 a.m., marking the first attack of its kind in the community. He called for increased military presence, stressing that many parents no longer feel safe sending their children back to school.
Another resident, Sarah Aina, narrated how one of her twin children was abducted during an examination while the other escaped. She appealed to government authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of all victims.
In response to the attack, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered federal government delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to the affected communities. The delegation included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and Presidential Adviser Sunday Dare.
The team conveyed the President’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers. As part of immediate security measures, the federal government approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State in collaboration with the state government and pledged to consider requests for the establishment of a military base in the area.
Addressing residents, Gbajabiamila assured them that the rescue operation would be intelligence-driven and carefully coordinated, combining both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to secure the victims’ release. He emphasized that the President was deeply concerned about the plight of the affected families and remained determined to bring the abducted children and teachers home safely.
The delegation also visited the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso and met with the family of the late teacher, Mrs. Mary Oyedokun, conveying the President’s condolences and promising government support.
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