Suspected terrorists have abducted the principal of Community High School, Esinele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, alongside several staff members and students, triggering fear and outrage after a distress video of the victims surfaced online.
The principal, identified as Mrs. Rachael Alamu, was seen in the viral footage appealing passionately for urgent intervention from the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and Nigerians generally.
The video, reportedly recorded from a forest where the victims are being held captive, showed the abductees in an emotional state as they pleaded for rescue.
Speaking in the footage, Mrs. Alamu disclosed that they had remained in captivity since Friday, May 15, 2026, and appealed for peaceful efforts to secure their release before lives are lost.
“We have been here since Friday… They should come to our aid and settle this thing peacefully so that our lives will not be lost,” she said.
According to reports, the attack occurred on Friday morning between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. when heavily armed men invaded the school premises at Community High School, Esinele.
The assailants reportedly disrupted academic activities before abducting the principal, students and members of staff into a nearby forest reserve.
During the attack, a teacher was also reportedly shot by the gunmen, while the attackers allegedly escaped with the principal’s vehicle.
The incident has thrown the Esinele community and surrounding areas into panic, with worried parents and residents storming the school premises in search of information about their children and loved ones.
Reports further indicate that several schools within the Oriire axis temporarily shut down due to fears of additional attacks.
The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction and stated that rescue operations are ongoing to secure the safe release of the victims.
Security sources disclosed that the Commissioner of Police is coordinating tactical operations alongside other security agencies in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not officially confirmed the total number of abducted persons, while no ransom demand had been publicly disclosed.
However, the circulation of the viral video has intensified public pressure on both state and federal authorities to act swiftly and ensure the victims are rescued safely.
The latest attack has once again heightened concerns over the security of schools in parts of Nigeria, especially in rural communities where security presence remains inadequate and vulnerable institutions continue to face threats from armed groups.
