Teacher on 45 pupils kidnapped in Oyo schools: They entered my classroom first and seized me along with a two-year-old girl I was carrying

Phenomenal
Phenomenal
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde

As anxiety grows over the terrorist invasion of some schools in Oyo State, a teacher who witnessed the incident has spoken on the challenging experience.

The tutor at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Elizabeth Olagoke, recalled how the terrorists invaded her classroom and assaulted her and a child she was carrying.

In an interview with ‘THE PUNCH’, Olagoke said the kidnappers spoke Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English.

She said, “The terrorists came around 8am. We had all started the morning session. They came on six motorcycles, and there were two passengers on each bike.

“I heard them saying, ‘E ya wolé’ (come in). They started shooting sporadically, and there was pandemonium. The terrorists were speaking Yoruba, Hausa, and Pidgin English.

“They were all masked and dressed in camouflage, and they were young men. They came from the Esinele area. They operated for about seven minutes.

“They entered my classroom first and seized me and a two-year-old girl I was carrying. I pleaded with them, and one of them said they should let me go.

“I started running, and some of them even chased after me. I had about 20 children in my kindergarten class. The schoolchildren are from three communities: Yawota, Esinele, and Alausa. The abducted schoolchildren are: eight from Yawota, 20 from Esinele, and five from Alausa. They also kidnapped a teacher. In all, they abducted about 48 persons.

“The terrorists stole my husband’s motorcycle, which he had parked at my school. They also killed a motorcyclist and snatched his bike. The total number of motorcycles stolen in Yawota is three. They took away the schoolchildren on motorcycles. It was a terrifying situation. I am yet to recover from the shock.”

 

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