Oyo Worker Appeals for Help After School Abductions

On May 15, 2023, a terrorist attack in Yawota Community, Oriir Local Government Area, Oyo State, resulted in the abduction of schoolchildren and staff from Baptist Nursery Primary School and Oriir Grammar School. Aduk Balogun, a hired worker and guardian of a child named Kehind Kaosarat, made a heartfelt appeal for government intervention during a visit by the Oriir Youth Council.

Balogun described the chaotic scene when armed men, disguised as soldiers, stormed the schools around 9 AM, leading to panic and confusion among students and staff. The attackers took several individuals, including mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, and a video of the beheading of one of the abductors circulated online.

The Oyo State Government, represented by Special Adviser on Security Abayomi Fagbenro, dismissed claims of hostage release as false, emphasizing the need for a decisive response to the crisis.