The Chairman of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Alabi Olateju Michael, has revealed that armed kidnappers who attacked three schools in Ahoro-Esinele community used motorcycles to invade the area before forcing abducted pupils, students and teachers through forest routes after abandoning a stolen vehicle.
The council chairman disclosed this on Wednesday during an exclusive telephone interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, while giving updates on ongoing rescue operations following the abduction of scores of pupils, teachers and school administrators in the area.
The attack occurred on Friday morning when armed bandits reportedly stormed Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, alongside two nearby primary schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
According to Alabi, the attackers moved from one classroom to another during the coordinated operation before escaping into surrounding forests with their victims.
“What we heard was that they came with motorcycles and later took the car of one of the teachers to convey these kidnapped people. They burnt it when they got to a place that was not motorable. They came with motorcycles and then made them walk,” he said.
He explained that the terrain of the area, surrounded by forests and reserve settlements, made security operations difficult, noting that the attackers exploited the location to evade arrest.
“You know we live in a farm-located area and we are surrounded by the reserve, so we have different people coming in, herders and farmers from different places, particularly non-Yoruba speaking natives. We can’t be too suspicious, but regardless of that, we never saw it coming,” the chairman added.
Alabi, however, assured residents that security agencies had intensified efforts to rescue the abductees, saying operatives had already surrounded the kidnappers within the forest corridors.
“It is a shocking incident but efforts are ongoing with the security operatives to secure the release of the abductees. They’ve been on ground since Friday and they’ve been surrounded. We have hope that soon they will be released,” he stated.
He disclosed that the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, had been deployed to the area to coordinate response efforts alongside security operatives.
The chairman also said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had taken direct interest in the operation, with additional deployments made to neighbouring communities to prevent further attacks.
“As I speak to you, the IG is in Oriire and all the axis and neighbouring towns and environs have been guaranteed safety,” he said.
Alabi confirmed that casualties were recorded during the attack, including a motorcycle rider, a teacher and a mathematics teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun.
He alleged that Oyedokun was killed and beheaded by the abductors while in captivity in an apparent attempt to scare security operatives advancing towards the kidnappers’ hideouts.
Meanwhile, panic had earlier spread across parts of Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities following viral videos showing students fleeing school premises over fears of another attack.
However, the chairman dismissed reports of fresh attacks in Ogbomoso, insisting that schools remained open and activities were continuing normally.
“Schools are in session in Ogbomoso regardless of the situation. There’s no attack in Ogbomoso. People are just spreading rumours to cause panic within the land. Oriire is distanced from Ogbomoso,” he said.
