The Oyo State Police Command has launched a manhunt and rescue operation following a coordinated attack by armed hoodlums on schools and surrounding communities in the Oriire Local Government Area.
According to an official statement issued on Friday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the violent assault occurred in the early hours of May 15, 2026.
In an immediate response to the crisis, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, led a high-powered team of operatives and service commanders to the scene to conduct an on-the-spot assessment and personally oversee the emergency response.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the attackers, operating on motorcycles, carried out simultaneous invasions on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, as well as the shared premises of Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele.
During the raids, the gunmen abducted several pupils, students, and staff members, including Mrs. Alamu Folawe, the Vice Principal of the grammar school.
While police confirmed that no student or pupil was killed in the incident, the assault claimed two lives; an assistant headmaster identified as Mr. Adesiyan, and a local commercial motorcyclist who was shot dead after resisting the hoodlums’ attempts to seize his vehicle.
Following the abductions, the criminals reportedly stole a Toyota Corolla vehicle belonging to the kidnapped Vice Principal, which they later set ablaze and abandoned along a road leading into a nearby forest.
To counter the threat, the command has deployed a robust contingent of operational assets, tactical teams, and advanced intelligence platforms to the affected communities.
Authorities emphasized that these extensive measures are aimed at preventing further breakdowns of law and order, ensuring public safety, and facilitating the swift, safe rescue of all abducted victims.
As security forces actively comb the axis to track down the perpetrators, the Oyo State Police Command has appealed to members of the public to maintain order.
Residents across the state are strongly urged to remain calm but vigilant, and to promptly provide law enforcement agencies with any credible information that could aid the ongoing tracking and rescue efforts.
