Gunmen invade Community High School, abduct students, principal, shoot teachers in Oyo

Panic swept through Ahoro-Esinele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday after armed men invaded a secondary school and kidnapped its principal alongside several students.

The attackers reportedly stormed Community High School during morning academic activities, causing chaos among pupils, teachers and residents of the rural community.

Security sources said the incident occurred between 8am and 9am, when the gunmen forcefully entered the school premises and began shooting sporadically before taking away the victims.

The abducted principal was identified as Mrs Rachael Alamu, while authorities said the exact number of students taken by the attackers was still being verified.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the attack through its spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, who disclosed that security operatives had already launched a rescue operation.

According to police findings, one teacher sustained gunshot injuries during the invasion, although officials had yet to confirm the severity of the wounds.

Residents claimed the assailants operated for several minutes without interruption before escaping through a forest route near the community.

Sources within the area also alleged that the kidnappers fled with the principal’s vehicle, using it to transport the victims out of the community.

The latest incident has triggered fear among parents and residents, many of whom expressed concerns over the growing insecurity affecting schools in rural parts of the country.

Community members lamented the slow emergency response, blaming the situation on inadequate security presence and the long distance between the area and the nearest police formation.

In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State reportedly ordered the deployment of tactical teams, patrol units and intelligence officers to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of the victims.

Authorities have not announced any arrests, while there was no official confirmation on whether the abductors had contacted families or demanded ransom.

The incident adds to the increasing number of school-related abductions recorded across Nigeria in recent years, with armed groups frequently targeting students and education workers in remote communities.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to rescue the abducted principal and students were still ongoing.