Oyo State has been thrown into fresh security concern after Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed that seven teachers were abducted during a violent attack on schools in the Oriire area of the state. The governor also said the exact number of missing pupils is still being verified as investigations continue.
Makinde made the disclosure on Sunday while briefing journalists on the incident, following an emergency security meeting with service commanders and heads of security agencies in the state. The meeting was convened to assess the scale of the attack and coordinate rescue efforts.
According to him, an Islamic Studies teacher was killed during the invasion, while security operatives have already arrested six suspects within the affected community. Three additional individuals identified as persons of interest have also been taken into custody.
The governor linked the attack to wider insecurity trends, suggesting that armed groups displaced by intensified military operations in the North-West may be moving southward.
“With the pressure on the terrorists and the bandits in the North-West, they will keep moving southward,” Makinde said.
He warned that states must strengthen their defensive measures to avoid being caught off guard by fleeing criminal groups, stressing the importance of preparedness and coordinated security response.
“But the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure points,” he added.
Makinde also revealed that preliminary intelligence reports suggest some of those arrested may have acted as informants for the attackers within the local community, aiding the planning and execution of the operation.
“The information available is that about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them we believe are informants,” he said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The governor noted that the state government is combining military response with non-violent strategies, including engagement with community leaders and religious bodies. He said discussions are ongoing with representatives of the Baptist Convention, which owns one of the affected schools.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just a kinetic approach. We are engaging leaders, elders and religious leaders, especially at the Baptist Convention,” he said.
Makinde urged residents to remain calm, assuring that government and security agencies are working to secure the safe release of the abducted teachers and resolve the crisis as quickly as possible.
“We are not taking this lightly. We will do everything within our means to resolve this quickly and bring our children back safely,” he assured.
