Fresh anxiety has gripped residents of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after an abducted vice principal and several students appeared in a distress video pleading for urgent government intervention following Friday’s deadly school attack.
The victim, identified as Mrs Alamu, who serves as the Vice Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria and other well-meaning Nigerians to secure their release from captivity.
Speaking in the video obtained on Sunday, the visibly distressed school administrator said she, alongside students and members of staff, had remained in the custody of their abductors since the attack.
“I am Mrs Alamu, the Vice Principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State.
On Friday around 9:30am, armed men attacked us and abducted many staff members and students. We have been here since Friday,” she said.
She appealed for a peaceful resolution to prevent casualties among the captives.
“We are pleading with the Federal Government, Governor Seyi Makinde, CAN and all Nigerians to come to our aid and ensure this matter is resolved peacefully so that lives will not be lost,” she added.
The victims were reportedly abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and Community Grammar School/L.A Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area.
The Oyo State Police Command had earlier confirmed the incident, saying heavily armed hoodlums riding on motorcycles stormed the schools and whisked away pupils, students and staff members, including Mrs Alamu.
The command also confirmed the killing of an Assistant Headmaster, identified simply as Mr Adesiyan, during the invasion.
An okada rider was also reportedly shot dead after resisting attempts by the attackers to seize his motorcycle.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified rescue operations across the affected communities, with the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, leading tactical and intelligence-driven operations to rescue the victims and track down the abductors.
The Oyo State Government has also directed the reopening of schools in Oriire and neighbouring local government areas following the deployment of additional security personnel to the area.