Security investigators in Oyo State have uncovered what they describe as a suspected informant network linked to the abduction of school pupils and the killing of two teachers and a commercial motorcyclist in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area.
The breakthrough comes after detectives traced telephone communications allegedly exchanged between suspected collaborators and the armed men behind the attack, revealing how the operation may have been coordinated with insider assistance.
Police sources said the calls provided critical details on movement routes through the National Park, which the attackers allegedly used to access and escape to hidden locations after carrying out the assault.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that at least six suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently assisting investigators as efforts continue to dismantle the wider criminal network.
Speaking on Tuesday, Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the arrests were achieved through coordinated intelligence-led operations across multiple locations in the state.
According to him, preliminary findings suggest that some of the suspects maintained direct communication with the abductors before and after the attack.
“Our findings showed that some of the suspects were in contact with the abductors through telephone conversations, and investigators are analysing those communications as part of efforts to uncover the full network behind the crime,” Ayanlade said.
He added that the communications under review allegedly included discussions on safe passages through the National Park and identified hideouts believed to have been used by the attackers to evade security forces.
“The conversations contained information on how the abductors could move through the National Park undetected and reach safe locations,” he stated.
Security agencies involved in the operation include the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), and Agro-Rangers.
Ayanlade said the coordinated response was based on actionable intelligence, which led to the arrest of the suspects in different parts of the state.
He assured residents that operations were ongoing to track down other members of the suspected syndicate still on the run.
“We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this criminal act is identified, arrested and brought to justice. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
The attack, which occurred last Friday, led to the killing of two teachers and an okada rider, while several school pupils were abducted, sparking widespread fear and outrage across Oriire and neighbouring communities.
Security presence has since been heightened in the area as authorities intensify efforts to rescue the abducted children and prevent further attacks along vulnerable rural routes.
