Senator Abdulfatai Buhari has disclosed fresh details about the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, alleging that the attackers carried out surveillance operations in the affected communities before launching the raid.
Speaking during an interview on Prime Time on Arise News, Buhari said the gunmen moved between the Yawota and Esiele communities, targeting schools and abducting pupils, students and teachers.
According to the senator, the attackers first struck in Yawota, where they reportedly abducted nine students before proceeding to nearby Esiele, located just a few minutes away by road.
He explained that the assailants later returned to Yawota and carried out additional abductions involving both students and teachers.
Buhari revealed that one teacher sustained gunshot injuries while attempting to escape through a window during the attack.
He also disclosed that a commercial motorcyclist was shot after the attackers allegedly mistook him for someone pursuing them.
The lawmaker noted that the affected schools are situated in remote rural communities and consist of only a few classroom blocks, making them particularly vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.
Providing further insight into events leading up to the incident, Buhari recounted how unusual commercial activity in one of the communities may have signaled the presence of the kidnappers before the abduction.
According to him, a local woman who sells beans and bread experienced a dramatic increase in sales during the two days preceding the attack.
He said the woman reportedly earned between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000 daily during that period, compared to her normal earnings of around ₦1,000.
Believing her business was simply experiencing a boom, she allegedly did not report the unusual patronage to community leaders or school authorities.
The senator said it was later discovered that many of the customers were suspected members of the kidnapping gang who had entered the community to conduct reconnaissance before carrying out the operation.
Buhari stressed the importance of vigilance and information-sharing within local communities, noting that seemingly minor unusual activities could provide critical intelligence capable of preventing future attacks.
He urged residents to promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies and community leaders.
The abduction of students and teachers from schools in Yawota and Esiele has continued to generate nationwide concern, with increasing calls for improved security around rural schools and stronger measures to protect vulnerable communities from criminal attacks.
