The Oyo state police command has confirmed that two people were killed during an attack on schools in Oriire LGA of the state.
Gunmen on Friday invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as Community Grammar School/LA Primary School, Esiele, in Ogbomoso, abducting an unspecified number of students and staff members.
Ayanlade Olayinka, spokesperson for the Oyo police command, said those abducted include Alamu Folawe, the vice-principal of Community Grammar School.
According to the police, no pupil or student had been confirmed dead at the time of filing the report. However, an assistant headmaster identified as Adesiyan was killed during the attack.
Olayinka added that a motorcycle rider was also shot dead after allegedly resisting attempts by the gunmen to seize his motorcycle.
The police said the attackers carted away a Toyota Corolla belonging to the abducted vice-principal before setting the vehicle ablaze along a route leading into the forest.
Abimbola Ayodeji, the commissioner of police, reportedly visited the affected communities alongside other security chiefs for an on-the-spot assessment and coordination of operations.
The command said tactical units, operational resources, and intelligence teams have been deployed to aid the rescue of the abducted victims and track down the attackers.
Residents were urged to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations and rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the Oyo Global Forum (OGF) condemned the incident, describing it as another sign of worsening insecurity in the south-west region.
The forum, made up of professionals from the Oyo federal constituency covering Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-west, and Oyo-east LGAs, said community sources alleged that over 30 gunmen dressed in military uniforms carried out the attack.
In a statement signed by Taiwo Adebayo, chairman of the group, the OGF said the victims were reportedly taken into the Old Oyo National Park and warned that criminal groups are taking advantage of poorly monitored forest routes 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 read.
The group also called for urgent rescue operations, stronger rural policing, coordinated forest surveillance, and long-term security strategies to prevent future attacks on vulnerable communities.