Grief and panic have engulfed Yawota, Esinele and Alausa communities in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State after armed terrorists invaded schools and abducted dozens of pupils during morning classes.
Distraught parents and teachers narrated terrifying moments as heavily armed gunmen stormed the communities on motorcycles, fired gunshots and whisked schoolchildren into nearby forests.
Many of the affected families said they have been unable to sleep or eat since the attack, while pleading with the government and security agencies to rescue the children alive.
Gunmen Spoke Yoruba, Hausa And Pidgin
A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Elizabeth Olagoke, recalled that the attackers arrived around 8am while classes were ongoing.
According to her, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles, dressed in camouflage uniforms and speaking Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin English.
She said panic broke out immediately they started shooting, forcing children and residents to flee in different directions.
The teacher explained that some of the attackers entered her classroom and attempted to abduct her alongside a two-year-old child she was carrying, but she was eventually allowed to escape after pleading with them.
Olagoke revealed that the attackers kidnapped pupils from Yawota, Esinele and Alausa communities, adding that about 48 persons, including schoolchildren and a teacher, were taken away during the attack.
She also disclosed that the terrorists stole motorcycles from residents and killed a motorcyclist before fleeing with the children.
‘We Thought They Were Soldiers’
One of the parents, Ajarah Ayanwale, whose seven-year-old son was abducted, said residents initially mistook the attackers for security operatives because they wore military uniforms.
She explained that many villagers believed the armed men had been deployed to protect the communities until gunshots suddenly rang out.
According to her, several parents hid in nearby bushes during the attack and later returned home only to discover their children had been kidnapped.
She appealed to the government to urgently rescue the victims, describing the incident as heartbreaking and traumatic.
Children Forced Into Forest
Another parent, Shukurat Pius, said her five-year-old son was among the abducted children.
She recounted that while some pupils escaped through windows during the attack, younger children who could not run fast enough were captured by the gunmen.
According to her, some children were placed on motorcycles while others were marched into the forest on foot.
She begged authorities to bring the children home safely.
‘Our Hearts Are Heavy’
A mother identified as Nafisat Agunle said her eight-year-old son, a Primary 2 pupil, disappeared after the attack.
She explained that the community became chaotic after gunshots were heard between 8am and 9am, and residents later discovered that gunmen had attacked the school.
Agunle said she has been unable to sleep, eat or even bathe since her child went missing, adding that the community had never experienced such an incident before.
Parents Hold Onto Hope
Another mother, Adijat Ibrahim, whose nine-year-old son Muhammed Ibrahim was kidnapped, said she still feels her child could walk back home at any moment.
She described her son as a punctual and hardworking pupil who left for school early that morning before the attack occurred.
The emotional mother pleaded with the government to rescue all abducted children alive.
Gunmen Escaped With Children In Vehicle
Serah Oguntunde, whose 13-year-old daughter was abducted, said she and other residents saw the gunmen fleeing with some pupils in a vehicle driven by a kidnapped school principal.
According to her, the attackers later abandoned and set the vehicle ablaze before disappearing into the forest.
She described the incident as devastating and prayed for her daughter’s safe return.
‘Two Of My Children Were Taken’
Another victim, Selimat Abadi, revealed that both her children — aged eight and five — were abducted during the attack.
She said parents rushed to the school after hearing gunshots, only to discover that several children had disappeared.
Abadi described the situation as frightening and appealed for urgent government intervention.
Father Searches For Missing Children
A father, Gabriel Sunday, said two of his three children were kidnapped while one managed to escape through the bush.
According to him, the surviving child later narrated how the terrorists fled through the reserve forest with the abducted pupils.
The devastated father said he could not imagine losing any of his children and prayed for their safe return.
The tragic incident has sparked fear across the affected communities, with residents calling for stronger security presence and urgent action to rescue the abducted schoolchildren.
