DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

I watched bandits gather my child with other pupils, mother of abducted Oyo student cries out

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A mother in Nigeria's Oyo State recounted the harrowing experience of watching armed bandits abduct her child and other pupils from their school.
  • The distraught woman described hiding while the attackers invaded her community, shooting and gathering children.
  • She pleaded with the government for urgent intervention to secure the release of her child and dozens of other abductees still in captivity.

A mother in Nigeria's Oyo State has shared her trauma after witnessing armed bandits abduct her child and other pupils from their school. The woman described preparing her child for school and being in the kitchen when the attackers invaded the community, firing shots.

I bathed my child and sent her to school. I was in the kitchen cooking so she would have something to eat when she returned when I suddenly saw bandits entering our town and they started shooting.

— Mother of abducted studentDescribing the moments leading up to the abduction.

From her hiding place, she watched helplessly as the gunmen assembled her child and other students before taking them away. The abduction has left her deeply distressed and uncertain about her child's fate, as dozens of pupils and teachers remain in captivity.

I hid myself and from where I was hiding, I saw them assembling my child together with other children.

— Mother of abducted studentRecounting the abduction itself.

The mother, who moved to Nigeria seeking better opportunities and supports her family through trading after her husband's death, appealed to the government for swift action. "The government is trying, but they should please help us bring our child back alive," she implored. Her plea comes weeks after the attack on schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities, where 46 individuals were taken. Families continue to express anguish and frustration, urging both federal and state authorities to intensify rescue efforts.

My husband is late and I am the one taking care of my children through my business.

— Mother of abducted studentExplaining her personal circumstances.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog