The Oyo State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of all school excursions, field trips, sporting competitions and every activity requiring students to move outside school premises following last week’s deadly abduction attacks in Oriire Local Government Area.
The decision came as family members, colleagues and sympathisers gathered in Ogbomoso on Friday to bid farewell to Mr. Adesiyan Adegboye, one of the teachers killed during the attack.
Adegboye, aged 49, was honoured during a lying-in-state service held at Ayegun Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, before his burial at his residence in the Owolake area of the town.
The late teacher was among the victims of the coordinated invasion carried out by armed men at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele last Friday.
Several pupils, students and teachers were abducted during the attacks, throwing residents of Ogbomoso and nearby communities into panic and fear.
Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier disclosed that seven students of Community Secondary School were kidnapped, while another 18 pupils and seven teachers were abducted from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.
The governor also confirmed that one person lost his life during the incident. Some schools were also temporarily shut down following rumours alleging that bandits had invaded Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, although the institution later dismissed the claims as false.
Amid growing security concerns, the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology introduced fresh safety measures affecting both public and private schools across the state.
In a circular signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. B.T. Oyinloye, all school administrators were directed to immediately halt every activity that would require students to leave school grounds.
The directive was addressed to TESCOM, SUBEB, Tutor-Generals, Zonal Directors, principals, head teachers and other education stakeholders across the state.
According to the circular, the move became necessary due to the prevailing security situation in the state. The ministry stated that all previously approved excursions and outdoor activities had automatically been cancelled until further notice.
School administrators were also instructed to ensure that students remain within school premises during school hours and to promptly report any suspicious movement or security threat around schools to relevant law enforcement agencies.
The government maintained that the safety and protection of students and school personnel remain its top priority, adding that the directive would remain in force pending improvements in the security situation across affected areas.
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