Mass school kidnapping: When an unknown plague enters South-West
The unexpected happened in Oyo State about three weeks ago. About 46 persons, including school pupils, teachers and principals were abducted by armed me. STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, in this piece, chronicles the events since then and x-rays how the people of the South-West have expressed alienation from such an occurrence.
It began as a normal day for teacher and students of schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State: Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities, Community High School Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. In Yoruba language, ‘Oriire’ can be roughly translated as ‘good fortune.’ But before the close of the day, not only the communities, the local government and Oyo State, but also the entire nation realised that Friday, May 15, brought ‘bad fortune.’
Numerous gunmen attacked the schools and carted not less than 46 person away, leaving in their trail the dead bodies of a commercial motorcycle rider and a teacher in one of the schools.
As reports had it, the state government moved swiftly, as relevant security agencies were alerted. Though some other reports had it that the local government can boast of only one police station, operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), code-named Amotekun in Oyo State, as well as men of the Nigerian Army gave the abductors a chase. But some of the operative ran into Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which resulted in injuries to some of them.
When the incident entered one week, it was learnt that the abductors and their victims were still marooned in the forests of the neighbouring Old Oyo National Park. Then came the report of beheading of one of the school teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun. The development sparked further outrage; and that was when some semblance of political insinuations began to creep in.
Now, it is over three weeks after the abduction; while governments has kept on promising safe return of the victims, with Governor Seyi Makinde promising that the state would spare no resources in ensuring safe return, the Nigerian Union Teachers (NUT) called out teachers on work-to-rule until government would ensure return of the pupils and teachers as well as of security to public schools in the state. Up till the time of filing this report, children in public primary and secondary schools have stayed at home.
Last week, a former governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, was said to have been quoted on a television station as alleging that Governor Makinde might have orchestrated the kidnap to embarrass the Federal Government. Makinde waved it off, asking Nigerians to pray for Fayose.
Also, within the week, there were reports of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, asking to be allowed to go into the forest to free the kidnapped. He was said to have established a local militia named “Iru Ekun.”
However, the police in the state also spoke on its efforts at collaborating with other security agencies to find solution to the debacle.
There had arrived the development of some Nigerians claiming that the captives had been rescued. But the command, on Thursday, debunked the viral message which circulated across various social media platforms alleging that the pupils and teachers abducted had been released by their abductors.
The police, in a statement released by its spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Ibadan, the state capital, described the claim as false, misleading, and entirely unsubstantiated.
It urged Oyo residents to rely solely on information released through the official channels of the Nigeria Police and other authorised government agencies.
The police said, “Oyo Police Command wishes to categorically debunk the viral messages currently circulating across various social media platforms alleging that the pupils and teachers abducted from Ahoro Esiele and Yawota Communities in Orire Local Government Area of the state have been released by their abductors.
“The Command states unequivocally that the claim is false, misleading, and entirely unsubstantiated. As of the time of this release, there has been no such development, and members of the public are advised to disregard the report in its entirety.
“The Command wishes to reassure the good people of Oyo and the families of the victims that intensive and coordinated rescue operations remain ongoing. Security operatives are working tirelessly, deploying all available human and operational resources to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, their unharmed reunification with their families, and the apprehension and prosecution of all those responsible for the heinous act.
“While appreciating the concern and interest of members of the public regarding the incident, the Command strongly cautions individuals and groups against the dissemination of false information, unverified reports, and sensational narratives capable of causing unnecessary panic, heightening public anxiety, undermining ongoing security operations, and threatening public peace and order.
“The Command, therefore, urges residents to rely solely on information released through official channels of the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised government agencies. Citizens are encouraged to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of ongoing security efforts while refraining from sharing unverified information on social media and other communication platforms.”
The statement assured that the command remained committed to ensuring the safe return of the victims and would also continue to provide timely and accurate updates as developments unfold.
On Wednesday (yesterday), a viral message surfaced that teachers’ union and concerned stakeholders called for prayers for the release of the victims, with the prayers said to involve pupils in private schools. It is expected that even private school students who had been attending schools would not attend on Friday (today).
Recall that early Wednesday morning (7:30 a.m.), another team of armed men had abducted the sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, and her twin children, Peter and Paul. The development threw Oyo State into another round of grief.
Apparently, this new development resulted in the viral message that prayers should be held between Thursday and Friday for the kidnapped persons.
The message reads thus: “On behalf of the people of Ogbomosoland, Oyo State, we request special prayer sessions for all the abducted people from the recent kidnapping crises in our land.
“The number of teachers missing/kidnapped is seven and students are 39 (total 46) missing/kidnaped.
“The affected schools include Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
“The following teachers were reportedly abducted: Mrs. Alamu Folawe (principal, Community High School); Mr. Ojo Jonathan (vice principal); Mr. Olatunde Zacchaeus (teacher), Mr. John Olaleye (teacher); Mr. Michael Oyedokun (beheaded teacher); Mrs. Oladeji (teacher); and Mary Akanbi (teacher).
“The underlisted students/pupils were also abducted from different communities within Oriire Local Government, Ogbomoso, Oyo State (Ahoro-Esinele):
“Rashida Tajudeen (11 years); Ahmed Ramoni (eight years); Abdulsalam Toyib (four years); Baraka Abioye (16 years); Fatimo Jimoh (15 years); Hassan Azeez (14 years) and Joshua Adeleke (13 years).
“In Yawota community, those abducted are Samuel Oyedele (seven years); Emmanuel Oyedele (four years); Idowu Taiwo (four years); Christianah Akanbi (two years); Juwon Sunday (seven years); Sikiru Salami (three years); Soliu Salami (four years); Ojo Joseph (eight years) and Lydia Adewole (eight years).
“Others are Testimony Jacob (five years); Kehinde Kaosara (seven years); Sewa Seyi (seven years); Waliya Bello (four years; Lydia Olohunloluwa (seven years); Damilare Oderinde (eight years); Deborah Adebowale (five years); Aisha Oguntowo (10 years); Lege Taiwo (12 years); Balkis Ayanwale (eight years); and Asa David (10 years).
“In Oniya community, abducted are Shuaibu Aliyu (10 years); Ahmed Aliyu (seven years); Muiz Aliyu (five years); and Jomiloju Ogunlola (six years).
“Also, in Alawusa community, listed victims are Agune Noah (eight years); Elizabeth Abadi (five years); Tosin Abadi (nine years); Pius Stephen (five years); Hannah Ojo (14 years); Habidat Ayanwale (seven years); Mary Gabriel (six years); and
Jacob Gabriel).
“The teachers are seven in number and students are 39.
“Between the hours of 12pm and 2am from tonight (Thursday), let us (especially mothers) cry to the Lord to put confusion into the camps of the abducted people and release all the rest unharmed in the mighty name of Jesus.”
As things stand, it is yet to be clear what the rescue efforts have yielded. But being a sensitive security issue, and as key stakeholders have been warning against misinformation, it is trite to keep fingers cross and hope that positive news will emerge soon.
