A 12-year-old survivor of the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has recounted how her teacher allegedly fled when armed men invaded their classroom, leaving pupils to escape on their own.
The pupil, identified as Aminah, spoke to SaharaReporters with the consent of her parents amid growing concern over insecurity around schools in the state following the abduction of pupils and teachers.
Speaking in Yoruba, she said the attack began suddenly while lessons were ongoing.
“We were in the classroom while a teacher was teaching us when we suddenly heard gunshots from outside,” she said.
“The teacher was the first to run away, leaving us alone. We all had to jump through the window and run into the bush to save ourselves.”
Aminah said she and other frightened pupils hid inside the bush for hours, unsure of what had happened, until they later heard voices of community members searching for survivors.
“We remained in the bush until evening before we started hearing people shouting. That was when all of us began coming out from the places where we had hidden,” she said.
“The people who took us home were residents of the communities.”
The incident comes as the Oyo State Police Command confirmed that at least 32 pupils, students, and teachers are still missing following coordinated attacks on schools in the Ahoro-Esiele area.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluyinka Ayanlade, said seven secondary school students, 18 primary school pupils, and seven teachers remain unaccounted for after the attacks on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that armed men stormed the schools during class hours, abducting pupils, students, and teachers, including the principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu.
The attacks have continued to spark panic across communities in Oyo State, with many parents withdrawing their children from schools over fears of further violence.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde said surveillance aircraft acquired by the state government to support security operations have arrived in the country and are being assembled at a Nigerian Air Force facility in Lagos.
He said the aircraft will enhance intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance to support efforts to combat kidnapping and attacks across the state.