IBADAN, Nigeria (FN) — Authorities in Oyo State say suspected informants helped kidnappers carry out last week’s abduction of schoolchildren and the killing of two teachers and a motorcycle rider in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area.
Police disclosed Tuesday that investigators traced phone calls allegedly exchanged between the suspects and the bandits during and after the attack. The conversations reportedly contained details on how the criminals could navigate routes within the National Park to reach hidden safe havens.
Six suspects are now in custody following coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Agro-Rangers. “We have six suspects in custody and they are assisting the investigation,” said CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command.
Ayanlade added that preliminary findings showed the suspects acted as informants, providing guidance to the abductors. “The conversations contained information on how the abductors could move through the National Park undetected and reach safe locations,” he said.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a growing security challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the southwest where Oyo State is located. Schools have increasingly been targeted, with children abducted in rural areas where security presence is thin. The Ahoro-Esiele attack, which left two teachers and an okada rider dead, has heightened fears among residents and underscored the vulnerability of educational institutions.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, where many Nigerians expressed grief and anger. “Our schools are no longer safe. Government must act decisively,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another lamented: “Teachers killed, children abducted — this is a national tragedy.”
Stakeholders in education have also voiced concern. The Nigeria Union of Teachers condemned the killings, calling them “an assault on the nation’s future.” Civil society groups urged authorities to strengthen intelligence networks and community policing to prevent further attacks.
Policy makers weighed in as well. Lawmakers in Oyo State pledged to push for increased funding for security in rural schools. A member of the House of Representatives described the incident as “a wake-up call for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.”
Police say efforts are underway to track down other members of the syndicate who remain at large. “We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this criminal act is identified, arrested and brought to justice,” Ayanlade said.
The attack has left communities in mourning and renewed calls for stronger collaboration between security agencies and local residents to combat kidnapping networks.
