Armed attackers struck three schools in Oyo State on Friday, killing a teacher, abducting pupils and staff, and triggering widespread panic across communities in the Orire Local Government Area.

According to Punch Newspapers, the coordinated assault targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School. Residents said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles at about 9am and moved quickly between the schools, firing shots as pupils gathered for lessons.

The attackers reportedly killed Joel Adesiyan, assistant headmaster of L.A. Primary School, while he was trying to escape. A commercial motorcyclist was also shot dead after riding into the scene during the chaos.

Witnesses said the gunmen abducted the principal of Community Grammar School, Rachael Alamu, along with five teachers and an unknown number of pupils. The exact number of missing children remained unclear late Friday, with families still searching for relatives.

The traditional ruler of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, said the assailants arrived on eight motorcycles, carrying two armed men each. He said the community was in the middle of a town meeting when gunfire erupted.

The monarch added that some kindergarten pupils were among those taken, describing the incident as one of the most traumatic attacks the area has faced. He blamed the scale of the assault on the absence of a nearby police station, saying security personnel arrived nearly two hours after the attackers had fled.

Local sources told Punch that the gunmen used the principal’s vehicle to transport some abductees before abandoning and burning it after it broke down in rough terrain.

Security forces, including the Nigeria Police Force and military personnel, launched a search operation into nearby forests around the Old Oyo National Park axis. The Oyo police commissioner, Ayodeji Abimbola, reportedly led tactical teams to the scene.

Following the attack, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board shut schools temporarily in Orire and neighbouring local government areas, including Surulere, Oyo East and Olorunsogo, to prevent further attacks.

In a related incident, gunmen also attacked a school in Mussa community near Sambisa Forest in Borno State on Friday. Abdullahi Askira confirmed that several pupils fled into surrounding bushes, while reports of abductions were still being verified.

The incidents have renewed fears over school safety in Nigeria, recalling previous mass abductions including the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.