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Oyo School Attack: Student Reveals How She Fled as Teacher Abandoned Pupils

Published

3 months ago

June 1, 2026

Oyo School Attack: Student Reveals How She Fled as Teacher Abandoned Pupils

IBADAN – Fear and uncertainty have continued to grip communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following the coordinated attack on three educational institutions in the rural communities of Ahoro-Esin-Ile, Yawota and Alawusa on May 15, as survivors and families of victims recounted their ordeal.

Among those still struggling to come to terms with the attack is Aminat, a student who narrowly escaped when armed men stormed her school while examinations were underway. Narrating her experience to a Nigerian filmmaker and On-air Personality, Chude Jideonwo, Aminat said what began as a normal school day quickly turned into chaos when gunshots rang out across the school premises.

“We were writing an exam when we heard them shooting. That’s how we ran into the bush. Even our teacher ran away. We haven’t seen him since then,” she said.

The student recalled that amid the confusion and stampede that followed, pupils scattered in different directions in a desperate bid to save their lives. According to her, it was only after the family conducted frantic searches that they realised her elder brother was among those missing. “Since then I have not seen my elder brother. After searching everywhere and he was nowhere to be found, that’s how we knew he was missing,” she said.

Sixteen days after the abduction, residents of Yawata, Alausa and Esinele villages have deserted their homes over fear and uncertainty. Most of the houses were under lock and key, while soldiers were stationed at the Esinele school and different locations within the communities. The attackers left behind scattered books, bags and personal belongings as evidence of the panic that followed. At the Baptist school in Esin-Ile, where some of the victims were taken, pupils’ boxes and school bags remained strewn across classrooms long after the attackers had fled. The incident has now left parents devastated and fearful for the safety of their children.

Residents said the attack occurred simultaneously across the affected communities, catching many families and school authorities off guard. A resident, Ogune Tegba, narrated how the attackers disguised themselves as soldiers. “I came back from the farm and was eating outside when I heard gunshots. We wanted to check what was happening at Yawata when they passed on bikes. Each of them was carrying two guns. They dressed like soldiers. We were initially happy that soldiers had come to help us not knowing they were not. They came with six bikes and when they were coming back, they collected our pastor’s motorcycle and that of one teacher and a car. They later burnt the car,” he said.

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A teacher at Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Elizabeth Olagoke, also recounted: “The attackers came around 8 a.m. We had all started the morning session. They came on six motorcycles, and there were two passengers on each bike.”

In two separate videos released from captivity, the abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, made emotional appeals to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to prioritise negotiation over force in securing the victims’ release. Speaking from captivity in a distress video circulated on social media, the visibly exhausted principal said the abductees, including schoolchildren, had spent days in the forest under harsh weather conditions.

“Please, I am here again to beg the government, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde, to help us and dialogue with these people. They should not use force,” she said. She alleged that one of the captives had been killed following a recent rescue attempt. “The force they used yesterday has caused us so much pain. It has added to our problem. In fact, one of us has been picked, and they said they will kill him because the government tried to help us by force. We want you to call them and dialogue with them so that our lives will be saved,” she added.

In another recording, the principal said the victims had spent about 13 days in the forest. “Today is the 27th of May, 2026. It has been about 13 days since we were picked from work. And till now, we are still in the bush. We are in the cold, under the sun and rain. Please, don’t let them waste our lives,” she pleaded.

The abductors have reportedly refused to negotiate with families, insisting on dealing directly with government authorities. Professor Wole Alamu of LAUTECH, Iseyin Campus, whose wife, Principal Rachael Alamu, is among the abductees, disclosed that the captors have maintained contact only through WhatsApp messages but have consistently rejected any attempt by the family to engage them directly.

“The captors said they don’t want to talk to us. They only want to talk to the government, and that is why we are helpless. Anytime they want to communicate, they send messages to me through WhatsApp,” he said. He added that since the incident, the family had not spoken directly with her, except for videos allegedly produced under duress by the kidnappers. “Since May 15, we have not heard from her apart from the videos she was forced to produce by the captors,” he said.

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An elderly woman broke down in tears as she appealed to the government, revealing that four of her grandchildren and her daughter-in-law are still being held captive. She spoke on Saturday when Governor Seyi Makinde visited the affected communities. “Please help us. We all parents are here,” the woman said on her knees as she wept. “I have four grandchildren who are in nursery school, and my daughter-in-law, who is a teacher, is currently being held captive by those kidnappers.”

The husband of the abducted principal also spoke at the meeting, breaking down in tears. “My wife is the woman the terrorists recorded to speak to Nigerians. Seeing a video of my wife in a terrorist den is depressing and disheartening,” Mr. Alamu said.

One of the affected parents, identified simply as Mama Muheez, who is the mother of Aminat, said her eight-year-old son, Abdulraman, was among those abducted. “When they finished eating, they went to school. We heard they were kidnapped before 11 a.m. The government told us they have been looking for them. It has been difficult. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep,” she said.

She added that the remaining children in her family are too frightened to return to school. “For now they can’t go back to school because we are scared. The government should help us. These children are my life,” the mother of six said.

Another parent, Gabriel Sunday, whose two children were among those abducted, lamented that the pain and uncertainty had left many parents traumatised. “We have not felt the government. They are not doing enough. If I am seeing the grave of my child, it is better than how they have taken them away. They should have mercy on us and help us to see our children again. Should they not go to school again? Jacob is six years old, while Mary is four. They should help us to bring our children back alive. There had been no peace of mind since the day of the incident,” he said.

For Sarah Aina, the attack has brought fresh anguish to a family already coping with loss. She said one of her twin children was taken away while sitting for an examination. “My kids are twins. They were writing an exam when the bandits came and asked them to stand up. That’s how they picked one of the twins,” she said. Aina, who is raising the children after the death of their parents, appealed to government authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release. “We ask the government to help us. We are still scared,” she said.

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A hired worker in Yawota community, Aduke Balogun, who has no family in the area, has also appealed to the government to rescue her ward among the scores of schoolchildren still in captivity. “I am the father of the child and the mother of the child. Her parents are not here. Me too, I have no one. I came here as a hired worker,” she said. She said she caught a brief glimpse of her daughter, Kehinde Kaosarat, in the chaos before losing her. “Please help me. We are visitors. We are begging the government. We know they are working. But they should help free our children,” she appealed.

As security agencies and local volunteers mobilised to rescue the abducted victims, tragedy struck again. One of the residents, Adigun Michael, disclosed that his brother, Shuaibu Adigun, was killed during efforts to locate the kidnapped children after rescuers encountered explosives planted along access routes by the attackers.

“My brother was among those who went in search of the kidnapped children, but they laid mines along the road. It was the bomb that my brother matched and died,” he said. Michael said his late brother worked at the national park and left behind a wife and children. “The pain is much,” he added.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that security operatives, comprising soldiers, members of the Amotekun Corps, and local vigilantes, died while carrying out operations to rescue the abducted teachers. The operatives died after encountering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors.

Governor Seyi Makinde visited the affected communities on Saturday and assured families of the victims that efforts were ongoing to secure their release. “Please believe in me. I have not been sleeping well myself. Together with the service commanders, we meet twice every day, once in the morning and once at night, sometimes until 10 or 11 p.m.,” the governor said.

“All I need is your cooperation. Please trust us. I cannot speak much because it has security implications. I know your hearts are bleeding. My heart is also bleeding. Please trust us. We will secure their release,” Makinde told the grieving families.

On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to the area, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu; the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; and the President’s Special Adviser on Public Communications, Sunday Dare.

The President also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State in partnership with the state government and directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free the abducted victims.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to commence an indefinite strike from Monday, June 1, 2026, over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils in the state. In a statement signed by the NUT Oyo State Wing Chairman, Hassan Fatai, and Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union said the prolonged captivity of the abductees has created fear and anxiety among teachers and disrupted confidence in the school system.

Residents believe the attackers escaped through routes linked to the old Oyo National Park after carrying out the operation. The attack has left the affected communities traumatised, with many schools yet to resume normal activities.

The Mogaji of the community, Yekini Abioye, described the incident as unprecedented in the history of the community. “It was around 9 a.m. that we started hearing gunshots and they said bandits were in town. This has never happened in this town. We are shattered as a community,” he said.

According to him, the attack has left residents traumatised and fearful, with many parents refusing to allow their children return to school. “They first killed a vigilante person. We need the army around here. The children can’t return to school for now,” Abioye added.

As of the time of reporting, rescue operations were ongoing, with security agencies working to secure the safe return of all abducted victims.

Oyo School Attack: Student Reveals How She Fled as Teacher Abandoned Pupils

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Igbo Ministers Link UK Separatist Crisis to Kanu’s Conviction, Demand His Release

Published

7 hours ago

September 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Igbo Ministers Link UK Separatist Crisis to Kanu’s Conviction, Demand His Release

A group of Concerned Igbo Ministers has linked renewed separatist agitation involving Nigerians in the United Kingdom to the conviction and continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and called on the Federal Government to release him.

The group argued that Kanu’s continued imprisonment has not resolved the grievances driving support for the Biafra separatist movement, insisting that a political and peaceful approach is needed to address the wider crisis.

The ministers said the Federal Government should consider dialogue, reconciliation and political engagement alongside security and judicial measures in dealing with separatist sentiments in the South-East and among some Nigerians abroad.

Their position comes amid renewed attention to activities by pro-Biafra groups in the United Kingdom, where supporters of Kanu have continued to campaign for his release and raise concerns over his conviction and treatment in detention.

The group reportedly maintained that the issues surrounding Kanu should not be viewed solely as a criminal matter, arguing that his case has become closely associated with broader grievances over governance, political representation and perceived marginalisation.

Kanu, a British-Nigerian separatist leader, has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s South-East separatist crisis for more than a decade.

He was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and subsequently returned to Nigeria, where he faced terrorism-related charges arising from his activities and broadcasts linked to the separatist campaign.

A Federal High Court in Abuja later convicted Kanu on terrorism-related charges and handed him multiple life sentences. He has challenged the conviction through the judicial process.

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The conviction has continued to generate controversy, with Kanu’s supporters and some community leaders arguing that the case should be resolved through political intervention.

The Nigerian government, however, has maintained that Kanu must answer to the charges against him and that his case is subject to the country’s judicial process.

The Concerned Igbo Ministers said the continued incarceration of the IPOB leader could make it more difficult to achieve lasting peace in the region.

They urged the authorities to examine the root causes of the separatist agitation and pursue measures capable of restoring confidence among communities affected by the prolonged crisis.

The group’s intervention adds to previous calls by some Igbo religious, political and community leaders for Kanu’s release and a broader political solution to the separatist conflict.

The debate over Kanu’s fate has also extended beyond Nigeria because of his British citizenship and the involvement of his family and supporters in legal and political campaigns in the UK.

British authorities have previously faced questions over Kanu’s detention in Nigeria, particularly following his controversial transfer from Kenya.

Kanu’s family had also pursued legal action in the United Kingdom over the circumstances surrounding his return to Nigeria, although British courts have previously rejected aspects of the challenge.

The controversy has remained closely connected to the wider activities of IPOB, which campaigns for an independent Biafra.

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The Nigerian government has proscribed IPOB and accused the group and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, of involvement in violence and attacks in the South-East.

IPOB has repeatedly rejected some of the allegations attributed to it and maintained that its campaign is focused on achieving self-determination for the people of the former Eastern Region.

The wider separatist conflict has nevertheless had significant consequences for residents and businesses in the South-East, including disruptions caused by sit-at-home orders, insecurity and attacks on public infrastructure.

Security agencies have continued operations against armed groups in the region, while political and community leaders have repeatedly called for approaches that combine security measures with dialogue and economic development.

The ministers’ latest demand comes against this background, with the group arguing that Kanu’s case should be considered as part of the broader search for peace and stability.

Supporters of Kanu have long maintained that his release could help reduce tensions and create an opportunity for dialogue between the Federal Government and representatives of communities advocating greater autonomy or self-determination.

Critics of such calls, however, argue that Kanu’s conviction followed a judicial process and that any decision concerning his sentence must respect the independence of the courts.

The demand for his release therefore remains politically sensitive, particularly as the Federal Government continues to address security challenges across the South-East.

For now, Nnamdi Kanu remains in custody, while his legal challenge continues.

The latest intervention by the Concerned Igbo Ministers has further intensified the debate over whether the government should pursue a judicial, political or negotiated approach to the Kanu case and the wider Biafra separatist agitation.

The Federal Government has yet to announce any decision to accept the ministers’ demand for Kanu’s release.

Igbo Ministers Link UK Separatist Crisis to Kanu’s Conviction, Demand His Release

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Driver Flees With Employer’s Car Two Days After Employment

Published

7 hours ago

September 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Driver Flees With Employer’s Car Two Days After Employment

The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a 2016 Toyota Camry allegedly taken by a newly employed driver just two days after he was hired, while an alleged accomplice has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The vehicle, belonging to an Indian national based at the Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos, was recovered from a hotel in Ifo, Ogun State, less than eight hours after it was reported missing.

The police identified the fleeing driver as Waidi Olaide Kolawale, who had reportedly been employed by the vehicle owner only two days before the incident.

According to the Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the incident occurred on September 9 when Kolawale allegedly told his employer that he was taking the vehicle to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a tyre.

The driver, however, allegedly failed to return with the vehicle and instead absconded with the Toyota Camry.

The vehicle owner subsequently reported the incident to the police, while electronic tracking technology was used to establish its location.

The tracking information reportedly placed the vehicle in the Ifo axis, prompting the Divisional Police Officer of Ifo Division, Kamorudeen Olabisi, to deploy surveillance and anti-robbery operatives to recover it.

The police team subsequently tracked the vehicle through several locations before locating it at a hotel in Ifo at about 8:30pm.

Police said Kolawale fled after sighting the operatives, allegedly taking the vehicle’s ignition key with him.

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However, an alleged accomplice identified as Monday Adetunji was arrested at the scene.

Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the suspects had approached a mechanic with an alleged plan to remove the vehicle’s catalytic converter, also known as a catalyst.

The mechanic reportedly refused to carry out the work, after which the vehicle was eventually traced to the hotel where police recovered it.

The police have since secured the recovered Toyota Camry while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Kolawale and establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.

Investigators are also working to determine whether other people were involved in the alleged plan and the intended purpose of removing the vehicle’s catalytic converter.

The swift recovery was made possible in part by the vehicle’s electronic tracking system, which enabled investigators to follow its movement after the owner reported it missing.

The incident highlights the security risks that vehicle owners may face when newly employed drivers are entrusted with access to their cars, particularly high-value vehicles.

It also underscores the usefulness of vehicle tracking technology in assisting security agencies to locate stolen vehicles and potentially identify those behind their disappearance.

The Ogun Police Command has continued to emphasise surveillance, intelligence gathering and rapid response in its efforts to tackle crime across the state.

Meanwhile, the police have not disclosed whether the arrested suspect has been formally charged before a court.

Kolawale remains wanted in connection with the incident, while investigations continue to determine the full extent of the alleged offence.

The allegations against the suspects remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

Driver Flees With Employer’s Car Two Days After Employment

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2027: LP Chieftain Sues WAEC, UNN, NYSC Over Peter Obi’s Credentials

Published

11 hours ago

September 13, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: LP Chieftain Sues WAEC, UNN, NYSC Over Peter Obi’s Credentials

ABUJA — The academic and National Youth Service Corps records of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, have come under fresh scrutiny following three separate suits filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The suits, instituted by Abayomi Arabambi, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), seek orders of mandamus compelling the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to release official records relating to certificates allegedly issued to Obi.

The legal actions are based on provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011, with Arabambi alleging that the institutions failed to provide information he requested concerning the academic credentials and NYSC records of the former Anambra State governor.

The three cases were filed separately.

The suit against WAEC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, and the action against NYSC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026, were filed on September 1, 2026.

The separate suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, 2026.

Arabambi filed the cases through his legal team led by Anderson Asemota.

However, the plaintiff has stressed that he is not asking the Federal High Court to determine whether the certificates associated with Obi are genuine or forged.

Instead, he is asking the court to compel the institutions to disclose their existing official records so that the status and particulars of the certificates can be established from the records of the organisations that allegedly issued or processed them.

The distinction is significant because the suits, as presently constituted, do not amount to a judicial finding that Peter Obi’s certificates are forged, invalid or fraudulent.

In the WAEC case, Arabambi is asking the court to compel the examination body to release a Certified True Copy (CTC) of WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, which the plaintiff says was issued to “Obi Gregory Onwubuase” in June 1978.

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He is also seeking information that would enable him to establish the circumstances surrounding the certificate and its details.

Arabambi said he had previously written to WAEC requesting the information under the Freedom of Information Act, but the examination body declined the request.

WAEC reportedly communicated its refusal in a letter dated August 11, 2026, citing Sections 14(1)(a) and 14(2)(a) and (b) of the FOI Act.

The plaintiff is challenging the refusal and wants the court to declare that the grounds relied upon by WAEC were not sufficient to deny him access to the requested information.

The suit against University of Nigeria, Nsukka focuses on Certificate No. D000198, which Arabambi says relates to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy allegedly awarded to Obi.

He is asking the university to release its certificate register, academic records, graduation records, Senate or degree-award records, as well as other existing official documents relevant to the certificate, insofar as such records exist.

The plaintiff said his request was intended to establish what the university’s own records show concerning the certificate rather than to ask the court to pronounce on its authenticity.

He is specifically seeking an order compelling UNN to communicate the result of any verification of Certificate No. D000198 based on its existing official records, including whether the certificate and its particulars appear in those records.

According to the court processes, Arabambi had earlier written to the university under the FOI Act but alleged that the request was not granted.

A subsequent reminder was also reportedly sent after the initial request did not receive the response he expected.

The third suit concerns NYSC Certificate No. 203495, which Arabambi says was issued on May 1, 1986, to “Obi, Gregory Peter-Onwubuase (Mr.).”

The plaintiff wants the NYSC to release the relevant certificate and any existing official records, documents or other materials upon which the certificate was based or issued.

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He is also seeking information about the appearance of the name “Peter-Onwubuase” in the relevant NYSC records.

The request is intended, among other things, to establish what the NYSC’s official records show about the certificate and the particulars attached to it.

Arabambi has told the court that the information he is seeking is in the public interest, particularly because it relates to transparency and accountability concerning a person seeking election to public office.

He is asking the court to compel the institutions to disclose information that is not legally exempt and to identify any portion of the requested information they believe is protected from disclosure.

One of the reliefs sought by the plaintiff is an order directing the respondents, where they contend that any part of the information is exempt, to identify the specific information withheld and the precise statutory provision relied upon for the refusal.

He is also seeking disclosure of any severable portion of the records that is not covered by a lawful exemption.

Another relief invokes Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act, asking the court to order disclosure if it determines that the institutions are not authorised to deny access, lack reasonable grounds for doing so, or that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest served by withholding the information.

The cases have emerged amid heightened political attention to the credentials of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi, who previously contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is now the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The legal action by Arabambi, who remains a Labour Party chieftain, therefore introduces another layer to the political contest surrounding the opposition candidate.

The controversy over Obi’s academic records is not entirely new, as questions about his certificates and names appearing on official documents have previously generated political debate and public commentary.

Supporters of Obi have in the past rejected allegations questioning the validity of his educational credentials.

The current cases, however, seek to obtain information directly from the institutions whose records are expected to contain details about the certificates.

The Federal High Court will therefore be asked to determine whether the plaintiff is entitled under the FOI Act to the information he requested and whether the respondents were legally justified in withholding or refusing to provide the records.

The outcome could have wider implications for access to official records concerning public office seekers, particularly where requests involve educational qualifications, professional credentials and other documents submitted for electoral purposes.

For now, there has been no judicial finding that Peter Obi’s certificates are forged or invalid.

The immediate issue before the court is whether WAEC, UNN and NYSC should be compelled to release or verify the relevant records requested by Arabambi.

As of September 13, 2026, no hearing date had been fixed for the three suits.

The cases are expected to attract significant attention as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election.