By The Oyo State Government has provided fresh updates on the recent attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, revealing that the suspected abductors have been trapped within the National Park axis following coordinated security operations.
Recall that unknown gunmen reportedly attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as Community Grammar School and L.A Primary School in Esinele on Friday, May 15, abducting an undisclosed number of pupils and staff members, while also killing an assistant headmaster and a commercial motorcyclist.
In a statement issued on Saturday, May 16, by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government disclosed that security operatives had successfully restricted the movement of the suspects, preventing them from escaping into neighbouring states.
“The Oyo State Government has disclosed that suspected kidnappers involved in the attack on LA School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire LGUBEA, have been effectively confined within the National Park axis following coordinated security operations aimed at preventing their movement into neighbouring states,” the statement read in part.
According to the statement, one principal, two vice principals, three teachers and some pupils were abducted during the attack.
Mr. Oyelade stated that security agencies had tightened surveillance around the area, making it difficult for the suspects to flee into Kwara State or other neighbouring locations.
He added that security operatives, including personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, officers of the Monitoring Unit and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, were deployed shortly after the attack to commence rescue operations.
The commissioner also disclosed that the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji, had liaised with the Kwara State Police Command to strengthen border surveillance and ensure any fleeing suspect would be apprehended.
According to him, patrol operations resumed in the early hours of Saturday after intelligence reports indicated that the suspects were still within the National Park area in Oyo State.
He further revealed that three separate patrol teams comprising Amotekun operatives and local hunters drawn from seven local government areas in Oke-Ogun had been deployed through Igbeti towards Oloka and adjoining communities.
Mr. Oyelade, however, noted that there had been no direct contact with the abductors, while the exact number of abducted pupils was yet to be confirmed as school authorities were still compiling records of missing children.
