A distraught guardian, Aduke Balogun, has appealed to the government to urgently rescue her ward, Kehinde Kaosarat, who remains in captivity alongside several schoolchildren abducted during a deadly terrorist attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Balogun made the emotional appeal during a solidarity and condolence visit by the Oriire Youth Council to affected families and community leaders in Yawota and Esinele communities.
A video from the visit, shared on the Facebook page Oriire ni tiwa, has since gone viral, drawing nationwide sympathy and renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking through tears, Balogun explained that she relocated to Yawota as a hired worker and has been solely responsible for raising the child because her biological parents are absent.
“I am the father and the mother of the child. Her parents are not here, and I also have nobody here. I came to this community as a hired worker,” she said.
Recounting the terrifying attack, she said the day started like every other school day until armed men disguised as soldiers invaded the area.
“We bathed our children and sent them to school that morning. After 9am, we saw some men dressed like soldiers, and we thought they were visitors. Suddenly, we started hearing loud gunshots everywhere,” she recalled.
According to her, panic spread instantly as residents fled for safety.
“Everybody started running. Nobody knew what was happening. I briefly saw my daughter, Kehinde Kaosarat, before we became separated in the chaos,” she said.
Balogun pleaded with authorities
“We are begging the government to help us free our children. We know they are trying, but they should please rescue them,” she added.
Another resident, Madam Agnes, also narrated the horror of the attack, saying residents initially mistook the armed men for security operatives.
“The children had resumed school shortly after 9am when the men arrived dressed like soldiers. We thought they came to greet the pupils, but suddenly gunshots filled the air,” she said.
She explained that terrified residents ran into nearby bushes without being able to save the children.
“Nobody waited. Everybody was running for their lives. We later heard that a youth had been killed near the nursery school in Yawota. As we escaped towards Esinele, we discovered the attackers had also spread there,” she said emotionally.
The traditional ruler of Esinele, the Elesinele of Esinele, Tajudeen Abioye, confirmed that several pupils, teachers, and a school principal were abducted during the invasion.
“Kidnappers entered this town on Friday and abducted our children, teachers, and the principal. That unfortunate incident is what has now brought attention to this community,” he said.
The monarch called for urgent government intervention and prayed for the safe return of the victims.
“We pray that God will have mercy on us and not allow this community to be remembered for tragedy,” he added.
The incident has further intensified concerns over insecurity and repeated attacks on schools across Nigeria, with many Nigerians demanding stronger action to protect vulnerable communities and schoolchildren.
