Oyo State abduction: Grandmother cries for help as four grandchildren, daughter-in-law remain in forest

Admin

Deep anguish has gripped the entire Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after an elderly woman, Mrs Funmilayo Ojo, cried out that four of her grandchildren and her son’s wife are among the victims abducted by suspected bandits.

She cried out during a community gathering held during a visit by Governor Seyi Makinde. The distraught grandmother struggled to contain her emotions as she appealed for urgent government intervention to secure the release of her family members.

“My four grandchildren and my son’s wife are among those abducted,” she said, describing the incident as a devastating blow that has left her household in deep pain and uncertainty.

The abduction, which affected pupils, teachers, and staff of schools in the area, has left families in a state of anxiety, with residents describing the incident as unprecedented in the community. Many said they had never experienced such a large-scale attack and abduction in their area.

Among other affected families is that of a professor at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, whose wife, a school principal, is also among those taken. Several families continue to gather daily, hoping for updates on the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Community members said the situation has created widespread fear, with residents living in uncertainty as they await rescue efforts from security agencies.

Traditional leaders, including the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye Afolabi, visited affected communities to sympathise with residents, describing the incident as deeply painful and traumatic for families across the area.

In response to the attack, the federal government dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other top security chiefs.

As part of immediate security measures, the President approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State in collaboration with the state government, while also directing intensified rescue operations by security agencies.