Panic has gripped the Ahoro-Esinele community in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following an invasion by gunmen on Friday morning.
The armed group reportedly stormed Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., where they kidnapped the school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, and an unspecified number of students.
During the violent encounter, a teacher was also shot by the attackers.
Local sources revealed that the kidnappers fled the scene in the principal’s vehicle, heading into a nearby forest reserve that borders the community.
Witnesses noted that the nearest police station, the Ikoyi Division, is a significant distance from the village, which may have delayed an immediate response.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer for the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that an attack had indeed occurred in the area.
While Ayanlade did not initially provide specific details regarding the number of people abducted, he confirmed that the Commissioner of Police and a tactical team were already en route to the community to assess the situation and initiate rescue operations.
The incident has left residents in a state of shock as security agencies continue their efforts to track the suspects and secure the release of the victims.