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12-Year-Old Survivor Recounts Horror as Teacher ‘Ran Away’ During Oyo School Terror Attack

Written by

Promise Odejide

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A 12-year-old survivor of the recent terrorist attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has narrated how her teacher allegedly fled for safety immediately gunmen invaded their classroom, forcing terrified pupils to jump through windows and hide inside the bush for hours.

The survivor, identified as Aminah, spoke during an interview with SaharaReporters as fresh details continue to emerge from the coordinated attack that left several pupils, students and teachers missing.

“We Jumped Through The Window”

Narrating the incident in Yoruba, the visibly traumatised schoolgirl said lessons were ongoing when gunshots suddenly erupted outside the classroom.

“We were in the classroom while a teacher was teaching us when we suddenly heard gunshots from outside,” Aminah said.

“The teacher was the first to run away, leaving us alone. We all had to jump through the window and run into the bush to save ourselves.”

She explained that many of the pupils remained hidden inside the forest for several hours out of fear, only coming out later in the evening after hearing the voices of residents searching for survivors.

“We remained in the bush until evening before we started hearing people shouting. That was when all of us began coming out from the places where we had hidden,” she added.

“The people who took us home were residents of the communities as well.”

Teacher Beheaded After Abduction

The attack happened on May 16 when armed bandits stormed multiple schools in the Ahoro-Esiele community during school hours.

Among those abducted were pupils, students, teachers and the principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu. Two persons were also reportedly killed during the invasion.

Days after the abduction, a disturbing viral video surfaced online showing one of the kidnapped teachers being beheaded by the attackers.

The victim was later identified as Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher.

32 Victims Still Missing

The Oyo State Police Command later confirmed that at least 32 victims abducted during the attacks are still missing.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluyinka Ayanlade, disclosed that seven secondary school students, 18 primary school pupils and seven teachers remain unaccounted for.

According to him, the victims were abducted from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.

“Seven students, 18 pupils, and seven teachers are still missing,” Ayanlade said.

Makinde Speaks On Surveillance Aircraft

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said surveillance aircraft acquired by the state government to strengthen security operations have already arrived in Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the governor disclosed that the aircraft are currently being assembled at a Nigerian Air Force facility in Lagos before deployment.

“The surveillance aircraft have arrived in the country,” Makinde said.

“As of today, they are at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Lagos, where they are being assembled.”

He added that the aircraft would help improve intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance to combat kidnapping and violent attacks across the state.

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