The traditional ruler of Yawota community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Baale Emmanuel Alade, has revealed that parents of schoolchildren abducted by gunmen rejected relief materials and cash donations brought by government officials, insisting instead on the immediate and safe return of their children.
The monarch disclosed this during a video interview posted by News Central on Monday, where he gave a heartbreaking account of the attack that threw the quiet farming community into fear and confusion.
Baale Alade recounted the terrifying moment armed men invaded the area, abducting pupils and teachers while firing gunshots that sent residents fleeing for safety.
According to the traditional ruler, he noticed suspicious movements shortly before the attack but did not initially realise the danger that was about to unfold.
“I was sitting here when I saw them pass by, but I don’t know them at all,” he said.
“Not quite long after, we started hearing gunshots. They said bandits had entered the community and everyone ran away. The person that went to see them was gunned down.”
The monarch explained that panic spread rapidly across the community as residents scrambled to protect themselves and their families from the attackers.
He said the heavily armed gunmen stormed the area unexpectedly and operated for some time before leaving with several schoolchildren and teachers.
“That was how the students were taken away. Little children were taken away while they kept shooting,” Baale Alade added emotionally.
The incident has heightened fears over growing insecurity in parts of the country, especially attacks targeting schools and vulnerable rural communities.
Residents of Yawota reportedly remain traumatised by the incident, with many families anxiously awaiting information about the fate of the abducted victims.
Baale Alade disclosed that government officials later visited the community in an attempt to provide support and relief to affected families.
According to him, the delegation arrived with relief materials, including bags of rice and cash assistance, alongside women said to be members of Governor Seyi Makinde’s team.
However, the monarch said the gesture was rejected by many grieving parents, who insisted that no amount of food or money could replace the lives and safety of their children.
The emotional reaction of the parents reflected the deep pain and frustration within the community, as families demanded stronger efforts toward rescuing the abducted pupils and teachers.
“They said what they wanted was not rice or money. They want their children back safely,” the monarch explained.
The development underscores the increasing desperation among families affected by kidnapping and violent attacks across the country, particularly incidents involving schoolchildren.
Community members reportedly questioned why schools and rural settlements continue to remain vulnerable despite repeated security concerns and previous attacks in different parts of Nigeria.
Some residents said the attack had shattered the sense of safety within the community, leaving many parents fearful of allowing their children return to school even after the crisis is resolved.
Observers say the rejection of relief materials highlights the emotional and psychological toll of abductions on affected communities, where families often feel abandoned and helpless while waiting for rescue efforts.
The attack has also renewed calls for stronger protection of schools, especially in remote areas where security presence is limited.
Educational stakeholders and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that insecurity threatens the future of learning in many parts of the country, as students and teachers increasingly become targets for criminal groups.
In recent years, several schools across Nigeria have faced attacks involving kidnappings, forcing some institutions to shut down temporarily while parents withdraw children over safety fears.
Residents of Yawota appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government and security agencies to intensify rescue operations and ensure the abducted victims are returned unharmed.
They also called for improved security deployment in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
For many families in the community, however, the pain remains overwhelming as uncertainty continues over the fate of the abducted pupils and teachers.
The atmosphere in Yawota was described as tense and sorrowful, with parents, relatives and community leaders united in one demand the safe return of their loved ones.
As rescue efforts continue, many residents say the tragedy serves as another painful reminder of the growing insecurity confronting rural communities and schools across the country.
