Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari, has revealed that the gunmen who abducted 46 pupils and teachers from schools in Yawota and Esiele communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State carried out surveillance activities for days before launching the attack.
As reported by The Sun, the lawmaker said suspicious movements and unusual commercial activities around the communities could have provided early warning signs if they had been promptly reported to authorities.
Buhari disclosed this while speaking on a television programme on Thursday, where he recounted details of the May 15 attack.
According to him, the attackers first stormed a school in Yawota, where they abducted nine pupils before proceeding to Esiele, located a few minutes away, to seize more students and teachers.
“From Yawota to Esiele is about five to eight minutes' drive. After taking the students in Yawota, they moved to Esiele and abducted the remaining students and teachers,” he said.
The senator added that one of the teachers was shot while attempting to escape through a window, while a commercial motorcyclist was also attacked after the gunmen allegedly mistook him for someone pursuing them.
“One of the teachers tried to flee through a window and was shot. There was also an okada rider who was simply transporting a passenger from Yawota to Esiele. The attackers believed he was chasing them and shot him,” Buhari said.
He attributed the vulnerability of the affected schools to their remote locations, noting that many rural schools lack adequate security infrastructure.
Speaking further, Buhari narrated how a local food vendor unknowingly interacted with members of the criminal gang before the attack.
According to him, the woman, who sold beans and bread in the area, experienced an unusual surge in sales two days before the abduction.
“Ordinarily, she makes about N1,000 or N1,200 daily. But two days before the attack, she was making between N10,000 and N20,000 from customers buying food,” he said.
The senator explained that the woman assumed her business was booming and did not consider informing community leaders or school authorities about the unfamiliar customers.
“She thought it was simply increased patronage and did not report it to the Baale or teachers. Later, it became clear that those individuals were carrying out surveillance ahead of the attack,” Buhari stated.
He stressed the importance of community intelligence and timely reporting of suspicious activities, saying information-sharing remained a critical tool in combating insecurity.
“At times, information is very vital. Had such unusual activities been reported early, the situation might have attracted attention before the attack occurred,” he added.
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