Terror Fears Spread Across South-West as Oyo School Attack Sparks Panic in Lagos, Ogun

Fresh waves of fear are sweeping across Nigeria’s South-West following a string of deadly attacks, kidnappings and school invasions linked to suspected terrorists operating in parts of Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti states.

The growing insecurity has triggered anxiety among residents, with many now worried that armed groups long associated with violence in the North-East may be expanding their operations deeper into Yorubaland.

The latest outrage came in Oyo State, where gunmen riding motorcycles stormed three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting more than 30 students and teachers. The attackers also killed at least two people during the coordinated assault.

The affected schools included Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School. Days after the abduction, one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the assailants in a chilling video released online.

Families of the remaining victims say they are becoming increasingly desperate as rescue efforts continue with no breakthrough nearly two weeks after the incident. Community leaders have also raised concerns that the rainy season could worsen conditions for those held captive in forest hideouts.

The attacks have intensified concerns about security across the South-West. Earlier in April, suspected terrorists invaded a church during an open-air crusade in Eda Oniyo, Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting several worshippers. Weeks later, three members of a family were kidnapped in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, while police and vigilantes in Oyo foiled an alleged ransom collection operation linked to a kidnapping gang.

Residents in Lagos have now begun expressing fears that the violence could spread into the commercial capital. Security presence has reportedly increased around schools, worship centres and other public locations across the state.

A Lagos resident, Monica Agwu, said many families no longer feel safe. “People are scared because if attacks are happening in Oyo, nobody can confidently say Lagos is completely secure. Parents are already under pressure from the economy and now they are also worried about the safety of their children,” she said.

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, also stirred debate after claiming in a viral video that criminal elements may already be operating within Lagos and nearby states. He warned residents not to ignore the warning signs, insisting the attackers were only waiting for the right moment to strike.

Reacting to the growing concerns, the Lagos State Police Command assured residents that security agencies had activated measures to protect lives and property. The deputy police spokesperson, SP Ambimbola Adebisi, said strategies were already in place to prevent possible attacks.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command confirmed that multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with the school abductions. Police spokesperson Olayinka Olushola disclosed that more arrests were made on Friday, adding that investigators were profiling the suspects to determine their level of involvement in the attacks.

Security analyst Stanley Abiodun blamed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on the failure to establish state police structures. According to him, local policing would make it easier to identify suspicious movements and unfamiliar faces within communities.

“The terrorists may already be spread across parts of Yorubaland. What we are seeing now is a sign that the current security system is overstretched,” he said. “Local security officers understand their terrain better than officers posted from distant regions. State police remains the most effective solution.”

As tension rises across the South-West, residents are demanding stronger action from both federal and state authorities to prevent further attacks and restore public confidence in the region’s security.