By Ado Oyeyemi
The Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Abdulfatai Buhari, has revealed how suspected kidnappers who abducted dozens of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State allegedly carried out surveillance activities days before launching their attack.
Speaking during a television programme on Thursday, Buhari said the gunmen left several warning signs that could have alerted residents and authorities to their presence before the May 15 abduction of 46 schoolchildren and teachers from schools in Yawota and Esiele communities.
According to the lawmaker, 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.
He disclosed that a teacher who attempted to escape through a window during the attack was shot, while a commercial motorcyclist was also hit by gunfire after the kidnappers reportedly mistook him for someone pursuing them.
Buhari attributed the vulnerability of the schools to their remote locations, noting that many educational facilities in rural communities lack adequate security and are often isolated from major population centres.
The senator further recounted how unusual commercial activities in the area could have served as an early warning signal.
He said a local woman who sold beans and bread recorded an unexpected surge in sales in the days leading up to the attack.
According to him, the trader, who normally earned about N1,000 daily, suddenly began making between N10,000 and N20,000 a day from customers she did not recognise.
Buhari explained that the woman assumed her business was experiencing a boom and therefore did not alert community leaders or school authorities about the strange development.
He said investigations later suggested that the individuals purchasing the food items were members of the criminal gang conducting reconnaissance ahead of the operation.
The lawmaker stressed the importance of timely intelligence gathering and community vigilance, noting that suspicious activities, no matter how insignificant they may appear, should always be reported to relevant authorities.
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He maintained that information sharing remains a critical tool in preventing attacks and improving security in vulnerable communities.
