Gunmen Invade Oyo Secondary School, Abduct Principal, Students

Fresh panic has gripped residents of Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after armed gunmen reportedly invaded a secondary school and abducted the principal alongside several students during school hours.

The incident occurred on Friday morning at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, between about 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., according to reports confirmed by the Oyo State Police Command.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the school premises while academic activities were ongoing, causing chaos among students, teachers and residents of the agrarian community. In the confusion that followed, the gunmen allegedly whisked away the school principal, identified as Mrs. Rachael Alamu, together with an unspecified number of students.

Security sources also disclosed that a teacher was shot during the attack, though details about the victim’s condition remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police spokesperson in the state, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said the command had launched an intensive rescue operation and manhunt for the abductors. The police further revealed that the attackers also stole a Toyota Corolla belonging to one of the abducted school officials before setting the vehicle ablaze along a road leading into a nearby forest.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, was said to have led tactical teams and other security operatives to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and coordinated rescue efforts. Authorities said intelligence and operational assets had been deployed across the affected communities to prevent further attacks and secure the safe return of the victims.

The attack has triggered widespread fear among parents and residents, many of whom expressed concern over the growing insecurity around schools and rural communities in parts of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has reportedly ordered the temporary closure of schools in some affected areas following the incident and related security concerns.