…As fear grips communities
Suspected terrorists who abducted pupils and teachers from three schools in Esinele, Yamota, and Alawusa in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have opened communication channels with the state government, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Two sources familiar with the matter said the abductors refused to speak with the victims’ families and insisted on negotiating only with the governor or his representative.
“They said they only want to talk to the governor and nobody else. That was the condition they gave for negotiation. So, nobody knows the details and what they are demanding,” one source said.
It could not be confirmed whether the governor himself or a representative is handling the talks. A source close to the process described the contact as a relief.
“It is not that security agencies don’t know what to do, but the risks are too high. The relief is that at least now, they are talking,” the source said.
The terrorists’ demands are being kept confidential to avoid jeopardizing the victims’ safety. Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Abayomi Fagbenro, declined to comment, saying, “I can’t give any information at the moment.”
Fear for abducted toddlers and teachers
Teachers and pupils, including children aged two and three, were abducted from the three schools last Friday. The victims have now spent eight days in captivity.
Families and community leaders say their fears have grown with the onset of the rainy season, which makes movement through forests and rough terrain more dangerous for the captives. Sources said the abductors are moving the victims through thick forests and across state lines to evade security forces.
“We are worried about their safety. We don’t know how they are faring. Children as young as two years old are among the abductees,” a community leader said.
Schools empty as attendance collapses
Pupils in public and private primary and secondary schools in Ogbomoso and neighboring communities such as Ikose, Ikoyi, Tewure, and Dananu have stayed away from school since the attacks.
Attendance has dropped sharply across the area as parents keep children home over security fears. Teachers said the situation worsened after students at Areago Grammar School spotted men in a nearby bush on Tuesday and raised an alarm. The resulting stampede led to the death of a pupil hit by a vehicle, and his mother reportedly died of shock on hearing the news.
“All the schools, both private and public, in Ogbomoso have been empty since Monday. Pupils stopped attending after the Esinele attacks,” a teacher at Ikose Primary School said. “By Thursday, we didn’t see any student, and many teachers also stayed away.”
Teachers also agreed not to go to school on Friday in honor of Joel Adesiyan, a 49-year-old assistant headmaster killed during the abduction. He was buried Friday.
Another teacher in Tewure said parents had called to say their children would stay home “because they were scared to attend school following the abduction of their mates in Esinele and Yamota.”
“Many classrooms are half empty because parents are scared,” said Oyeyemi, a teacher in Ogbomoso. “If urgent security measures are not put in place, more parents will withdraw their children completely.”
Teachers traumatized by killings
Two teachers have been confirmed dead. Adesiyan was killed during the attack, while Michael Oyedokun was reportedly beheaded in captivity.
Oyeyemi said the killings had deepened anxiety among educators. “When you hear that a fellow teacher was killed and another was beheaded, you will understand the level of panic. We are humans too. We have families waiting for us at home,” she said.
A teacher in Oriire LGA said attendance had dropped sharply and anxiety remained high. “Even among teachers, there is anxiety because nobody can confidently say such an incident will not happen again.”
Government blames misinformation
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said fear was being worsened by false videos circulating on social media.
“Bloggers are posting videos to aggravate the situation, even when the videos are false,” he said. He added that the government had issued statements to reassure residents and was working to secure the release of the captives.
Victims mourned
Adesiyan was buried Friday at Ayegun Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, amid tears. Officials, colleagues, and family members attended the service and called for justice and the release of those still held.
Governor Makinde, represented by Permanent Secretary Michael Ojelabi, said the state was “doing all within its capacity to ensure that those in captivity are returned unhurt.”
Oyo State NUT Chairman Fatai Hassan described Adesiyan as “a dedicated, humble and peace-loving professional whose impact will be missed.”
Oyedokun’s family said he was married for over 10 years but had no children. Family spokesperson Ebeni Adediran described his death as “an irreplaceable loss” and appealed to the public to stop circulating graphic videos of his killing, saying it was worsening their trauma.
The abductions have renewed concerns over the safety of schools in rural Oyo and other parts of Nigeria where teachers and students face increasing risks of kidnapping.
…Sourced from Saturday Punch
