Olushola Omogbehin
Armed terrorists have attacked three schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing an assistant headmaster and abducted many pupils and teachers.
This happened on Friday in Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.
The attack which has been described as one of the most audacious on school communities in recent times, happened in broad daylight in many schools without resistance.
According to report, bandits invaded the communities around 9am, immediately school activities resumed in the morning.
Residents who witnessed the attack narrated that the terrorists arrived on motorcycles and shot sporadically on entering the school premises.
According to the resident, as the schools were raided in quick succession, pupils and teachers were forced to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
“They came in large numbers on motorcycles and started shooting immediately. Everybody ran. They moved from one school to another within minutes,” the source said.
In the process of running for their lives, the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was shot as well as an okada rider who mistakenly rode into the scene.
The principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, with five teachers and an unspecified number of pupils were also kidnapped.
Police and military have since launched a search-and-rescue operation on the attackers who were said to have fled into a nearby forest reserve between Oriire communities and Old Oyo National Park axis.
