By Ademola Adebayo
IBADAN — The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that 25 people, including pupils and teachers, remain missing four days after suspected kidnappers attacked two schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
Police spokesman CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, speaking on Channels Television, said the attackers struck simultaneously at schools in the Yawota and Esiele communities on May 15 at about 9:30 a.m., arriving on motorcycles in a group of about 12.
“As of now, we have confirmation that seven students, 18 pupils and seven teachers are still missing. Those are the figures we can confirm for now,” Ayanlade said.
One of the targeted schools had both primary and secondary sections, while the other was Baptist National Primary School in Yawota. The attackers also abducted a school principal, Mrs. Alamu, and drove her vehicle into a nearby forest before abandoning it.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga ordered a manhunt immediately after the attack, deploying additional personnel alongside Amotekun operatives and local vigilantes. Ayanlade said the difficult forest terrain had slowed the response but denied that intervention was delayed.
Security operatives have been proceeding cautiously because the abductors are using the victims as human shields. “Any exchange of fire must be done meticulously because we do not want to jeopardise or risk the lives of the captives,” Ayanlade said.
He declined to confirm reports that the kidnappers had been cornered inside a national park, saying doing so could compromise the rescue operation. He also declined to classify the attackers as bandits or terrorists, describing them instead as “criminals and men of the underworld.”
“Whether terrorists or bandits, fundamentally these are criminals after the peace and tranquillity of Oyo State. We will not spare any effort in ensuring they are arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
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