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

Aminat

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 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.