Fear and confusion gripped residents of Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after suspected gunmen invaded Community High School and abducted the school principal alongside several students.
The attack reportedly occurred on Friday morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. when the armed men stormed the school premises, causing panic among students, teachers and residents of the community.
Sources within the area disclosed that the attackers kidnapped the school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, and an unspecified number of students during the operation.
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A teacher was also said to have been shot by the gunmen while attempting to escape the chaos.
According to residents, the kidnappers later forced the principal into her vehicle before fleeing through a nearby forest reserve bordering the community.
A local source said the exact number of abducted students had yet to be confirmed as families and community leaders continued efforts to account for those missing after the incident.
The source further lamented the security situation in the area, noting that the nearest police division is located far from the community, making emergency response difficult during attacks.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, stated that security operatives had already been deployed to the area.
He added that the Commissioner of Police was personally leading a team to assess the situation and coordinate rescue efforts.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over rising insecurity and repeated attacks on schools and rural communities across parts of the country.
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