Oyo: Parents Withdraw Children From School Over Rumour Of Fresh Bandit Attack
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Panic broke out in an Oyo State community after terrified parents reportedly invaded a primary school and forcefully withdrew their children over rumour of a bandit attack in a nearby area.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at Ijeru Baptist Basic School I and III after reports circulated that armed bandits had allegedly attacked communities around the Ajawa axis, triggering fear and confusion among residents.
TheFact Daily notes that the development comes amid growing insecurity and tension across parts of Oyo State following recent attacks on schools in the Ogbomoso axis, where gunmen abducted teachers and pupils from schools in Oriire Local Government Area. Among those kidnapped was the principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, while one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly killed by his captors.
Videos and photographs from the scene showed chaotic moments as anxious parents forced open the school gates and hurriedly took their children away from classrooms.
A community source said the panic was triggered by unverified reports linking nearby violence to suspected bandit activity.
“The parents stormed the school, forced the gate open, and began taking their children away by force,” the source said.
According to the source, several parents ignored repeated assurances from school authorities that there was no bandit invasion in the area.
“The information they heard was that bandits were around Ajawa, which is not true,” the source added.
The source explained that teachers had contacted security operatives, who reportedly clarified that the disturbance was linked to a clash between Fulani herders and farmers, not a bandit attack.
“The teachers came out saying they had contacted the police command within that district and were told the violence had to do with a fight between Fulani people and farmers there,” the source said.
The panic reportedly disrupted academic activities at the school, as many pupils were hurriedly withdrawn by parents and guardians.
Residents say fear of further attacks on schools continues to spread across communities in the state, especially after disturbing videos emerged online showing abducted teachers pleading for government intervention from captivity.
