Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that seven teachers were abducted and one teacher killed during a deadly attack on schools in the Oriire area of the state, as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the victims and track down those responsible.
According to Makinde, the exact number of students still unaccounted for was being determined, but he confirmed that the attackers abducted seven members of staff during the raid.
He also revealed that an Islamic Studies teacher was shot dead during the attack, describing the incident as a tragic loss and a disturbing escalation of insecurity in the state.
Security agencies have already made several arrests in connection with the attack. According to the governor, six suspects were apprehended within the affected communities, while three additional persons of interest are in custody as investigations continue.
The governor noted that preliminary intelligence suggests some of those arrested may have served as informants, helping the attackers to identify targets and move within the area undetected.
“The information available is that about six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them we believe are informants. Also, three individuals of interest have been arrested.”
Seyi Makinde
The governor linked the attack to the southward movement of armed groups displaced by ongoing military operations against terrorists and bandits in northern Nigeria.
Makinde warned that states outside the traditional conflict zones must strengthen their security architecture to prevent fleeing insurgents from establishing new bases.“But the problem that we have is when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure points,” he stated.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just a kinetic approach. We are engaging leaders, elders and religious leaders, especially at the Baptist Convention.”
Seyi Makinde
Makinde appealed to residents to remain calm and assured families of the abducted teachers and missing pupils that every effort was being made to secure their safe return. “We are not taking this lightly. We will do everything within our means to resolve this quickly and bring our children back safely,” the governor assured.
State Police Push Gains Momentum as Lawmakers Move to Tackle School Abductions
Moreover, calls for the creation of state police in Nigeria have intensified following renewed outrage over the abduction of students and teachers in Borno and Oyo states, with lawmakers urging swift constitutional reforms to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, condemned the attacks, which saw dozens of students and teachers kidnapped in separate incidents, describing them as a direct threat to Nigeria’s future and long-term stability.
In a statement issued recently, Bamidele indicated that the National Assembly would fast-track ongoing constitutional amendments aimed at establishing state police, arguing that decentralised policing had become necessary in the face of escalating insecurity across multiple regions.
He stressed that the recent wave of school kidnappings highlighted the urgent need for coordinated national action to protect educational institutions, which have increasingly become targets for armed groups.
The Senate leader also linked the attacks to broader concerns about Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis, which he said must be addressed alongside security reforms.
According to him, the 10th National Assembly is already advancing work on the constitutional review process, which includes provisions for state policing. Once concluded at the federal level, the proposal will be transmitted to state Houses of Assembly for approval by at least two-thirds before it can become law.
Bamidele urged state governments and lawmakers across the country to treat the proposal as a national priority rather than a political issue, warning that continued delays could worsen insecurity and deepen public anxiety.
He also called for stronger implementation of the Safe School Initiative, describing it as a critical short-term measure to reduce risks to pupils and teachers while broader reforms are being finalised. He noted that Nigeria’s out-of-school children population, estimated at 18.3 million, represents a major development challenge that is closely tied to insecurity in rural and vulnerable areas.
“The incessant abduction of students and teachers is a tragic national concern that negates our national development indices. We cannot and must not allow it to continue.”
Opeyemi Bamidele
He further disclosed that amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, were also being prioritised to enhance prosecution and deterrence mechanisms against perpetrators of violent crimes.
The renewed legislative push comes amid mounting pressure on federal and state authorities to secure schools, particularly in northern and north-central Nigeria, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted educational facilities.
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