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The Oyo state police command says two people were killed during an attack on schools in Oriire LGA of the state.
On Friday, some gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and Community Grammar School/LA Primary School, Esiele, all in Ogbomoso, abducting a yet-to-be-ascertained number of students and staff members.
Ayanlade Olayinka, police spokesperson in Oyo state, said the abducted victims include Alamu Folawe, the vice-principal of Community Grammar School.
Olayinka said while no pupil or student had been confirmed killed during the incident as of the time of filing the report, an assistant headmaster identified as Adesiyan, was killed during the attack.
He added that a motorcycle rider was also shot dead after reportedly resisting attempts by the attackers to forcefully take his motorcycle.
According to the police, the attackers also took away a Toyota Corolla vehicle belonging to the abducted vice principal before setting it ablaze along a road leading to the forest.
He said Abimbola Ayodeji, the commissioner of police, led security operatives and other service commanders to the affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment and operational coordination.
The police spokesperson said tactical teams, operational assets and intelligence platforms have been deployed to the area to facilitate the rescue of the abducted victims and arrest the perpetrators.
He urged residents to remain calm and provide credible information that could support ongoing rescue efforts and investigations.
Meanwhile, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) condemned the abduction and described it as evidence of growing insecurity in south-west Nigeria.
The OGF is a network of professionals who are indigenes of the Oyo federal constituency, comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-west and Oyo-east LGAs.
In a statement by Taiwo Adebayo, chairman of the group, OGF said community sources claimed the attack was carried out by more than 30 gunmen dressed in military uniforms.
The forum said the abducted victims were moved into the Old Oyo National Park and warned that criminal groups are exploiting poorly governed forest corridors linking Oyo with Kwara and Niger states.
“This must not be treated as an isolated incident. It is a clear national security threat requiring sustained military, intelligence, and community-based security operations,” the statement reads.
The group called for immediate rescue efforts, strengthened rural policing, coordinated forest surveillance, and long-term security measures to prevent further attacks in vulnerable communities.
