An Oyo State farmer, Micheal Ojo, has expressed deep regret over letting his four children, daughter-in-law, and grandchild attend school on the day they were among dozens of pupils violently abducted and marched into a massive forest reserve by terrorists.
A distraught farmer, Micheal Ojo, whose four children, daughter-in-law, and grandchild were abducted during the recent attacks on schools in Oyo State, has narrated how heavily armed terrorists invaded two communities, opened fire on residents, and marched dozens of pupils into a forest reserve. Speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters on Tuesday during a visit to the affected community, the elderly man, visibly shaken by the incident, admitted he deeply regretted allowing his children to attend classes after they initially begged to stay at home. “On Friday morning, my children said they did not want to go to school, but I told them they should go since they would close by 1pm. I wish I never told them to go,” he said sorrowfully, describing an atmosphere where fear and tension still hang heavily over the remaining locals following the well-coordinated abductions.
According to Ojo, six members of his family are currently being held hostage by the gunmen deep within the massive woodland tract. “I have four children in that school. My son’s wife is also among them, and she was carrying a baby on her back when they were kidnapped,” he said, noting that his daughter-in-law was subsequently seen in a viral video released after the attack, desperately pleading for rescue while carrying the infant. Recounting the timeline of the assault, Ojo explained that at exactly 9:00 AM, he was inside his house in Yawota community when he opened his window and spotted strange men moving around, entirely unaware that the heavily armed gang had already split into two groups and finished attacking the primary and secondary schools in neighboring Esiele community just four kilometers away. “There is a primary and secondary school in Esiele. The kidnappers divided themselves into two groups and already planned where they would meet after the operation because after Esiele there is no other community except the forest reserve,” he said.
The devastating incident has triggered a mass exodus from the affected agrarian settlements, leaving behind empty streets and locked structures as families flee for safety. Ojo disclosed that while military operatives have managed to establish a fix on the terrorists’ hideout, they are managing the rescue operation with extreme tactical discretion to prevent casualties among the young hostages. “The soldiers have already located where they are keeping them, but they do not want to harm the children, which is why they are being careful,” he said. Despite his neighbors completely abandoning the area, the grieving patriarch stated he has resolved to stay behind in his home to await the return of his family, concluding: “As you can see, almost everybody has fled for their lives. Most houses are locked because people have run away. But where can I run to? I have nowhere else to go. My children were here before they were kidnapped, and after this incident, I am still hoping they will return to me very soon.”
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