The principal of Community High School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has appealed to the Federal Government, the state government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure the release of abducted teachers and students following an attack by suspected gunmen.
The bandits invaded LA Primary School and Community High School in the Ahoro-Esiele area on Friday, leaving one teacher dead and several others abducted.
According to community sources, a total of seven teachers and 39 students are currently unaccounted for, bringing the total number of missing or abducted persons to 46. The gunmen also carted away three motorcycles from Yawota community and another motorcycle from the community high school.
In a video reportedly recorded from captivity, Mrs Alamu appealed for urgent intervention to prevent loss of lives.
“I am Mrs Alamu. I am the principal of Community High School in Oyo State. On Friday, around 9:30 am, we were attacked by a certain group of people, and a good number of us were abducted, including staff and students, and we have been here since Friday,” she said.
In a separate video, another abductee, Ms Temitope, with a baby on her back, was seen weeping, claiming she works at First Baptist Church in the Ogbomoso area. She pleaded with the President, state government, and the Christian community to help, saying “the children are here and they are crying so that they will not waste our lives.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation disclosed that security operatives have blocked escape routes and contained the attackers within the forest axis. The state Commissioner of Police has coordinated with the Kwara Commissioner of Police, and both commands have agreed to strengthen surveillance.
The state deputy governor led a government delegation on a condolence visit to the communities, stating that security agencies had engaged the suspected kidnappers in the bush, leading to the neutralisation of about three of them. He assured residents that those abducted will be rescued.
