By Damilare Adeleye
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that seven secondary school students, 18 primary school pupils, and seven teachers are still missing following coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluyinka Ayanlade, disclosed the figures on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme.
According to him, the attacks occurred around 7:30 p.m. on May 15 when about 12 armed attackers riding motorcycles stormed communities in Oriire LGA and simultaneously attacked two schools in Yawata and HSL communities.
“We have a confirmation of seven students, 18 pupils and seven teachers still missing. Those are the people we can account for for now,” Ayanlade said.
He explained that one of the affected community housed both primary and secondary school sections, while the other was identified as Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawata community.
The police spokesman said the attackers abducted victims from the schools and killed an assistant principal identified as Mr. Adison, alongside a commercial motorcyclist.
“They also killed an assistant principal, Mr. Adison, and a bike rider, popularly called Okada rider, carting away with his motorcycle,” he said.
Ayanlade further revealed that at L.A. Primary School in the HSL community, the gunmen abducted the principal, Mrs. Alamu, and fled with her vehicle into the forest, where the car was later burnt.
He said the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Ayodiji Oluwunmi, had ordered a massive manhunt for the attackers immediately the incident was reported.
“Additional assets and personnel were moved to the area and community to prevent breakdown of law and order,” Ayanlade stated.
Meanwhile, the attacks have heightened concerns over insecurity and repeated attacks on schools in parts of the country, with many calling for intensified security operations to secure the release of the abducted victims.