ORIIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, Oyo State — Fear and mourning have gripped communities in Oriire LGA following a brazen coordinated attack on multiple schools on Friday, May 15, which led to the abduction of several pupils, students, and teachers.
Heavily armed gunmen on motorcycles stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, L.A Primary School in Esiele, and Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, around 9:30 a.m. while classes were in session. The attackers fired sporadically into the air, causing panic, before abducting victims and dragging them into nearby forests.
Among those taken were seven teachers, including Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Mrs Alamu, the vice principal of the same school.
Vice Principal’s Distress Video
In a heart-wrenching video released from captivity on Sunday, Mrs Alamu pleaded for urgent intervention.
“I am Mrs Alamu, the vice principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. On Friday around 9:30, we were attacked by gunmen and many of us, including staff and students, were abducted… Please, we are begging for help. We want the government and all Nigerians to come to our aid,” she said.
Teacher Confirmed Dead
On Monday, a gruesome video allegedly released by the bandits surfaced on Telegram, showing Michael Oyedokun tied up before he was beheaded. Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing in a statement, expressing deep condolences to the family.
The governor revealed that security operatives involved in rescue efforts also suffered casualties after running into improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors. An assistant headmaster, Mr Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist who resisted the gunmen were also killed during the initial attack.
Government Response
Governor Makinde assured that the state is deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to rescue the remaining hostages. He disclosed that about six suspects, believed to be informants and logistics providers for the bandits, have been arrested by the police, while another security outfit arrested three more individuals of interest.
“We got a video this morning that one of the teachers — the mathematics teacher — was killed by the terrorists,” Makinde said, while appealing for patience from the victims’ families and the public.
“There may not be quick fixes, but we will continue to push ourselves to the limit to resolve this quickly.”
The Oyo State Police Command, under Commissioner Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has intensified tactical and intelligence operations. Additional security personnel have been deployed, allowing the state government to direct the reopening of schools in Oriire and surrounding areas.
Rising Tension
The incident has heightened fears across Oyo State, coming shortly after another deadly attack along the Ibadan–Ijebu road. Residents and parents are calling for stronger security around rural schools and intensified efforts to free those still in captivity before more lives are lost.
The brutal killing of Michael Oyedokun and the desperate appeal from Mrs Alamu have triggered widespread outrage on social media and renewed concerns about the worsening insecurity in parts of Nigeria.
