“Bandits Killed Three of Our Men During Rescue Attempt” — Hunters Beg Governor Makinde For Help

Residents and local hunters in communities surrounding the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State have appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde for urgent intervention following the abduction of 32 schoolchildren, teachers and a school mistress by suspected terrorists operating within the forest.

The appeal was made in a viral video obtained by Briefingbrew, in which a local hunter narrated in Yoruba the dangerous rescue efforts undertaken by vigilante and hunting groups who entered the forest in search of the abducted victims.

According to him, the rescue mission turned deadly after armed men reportedly attacked the volunteers, killing at least three members of the local rescue team during separate operations inside the forest.

“We went into the bush to rescue the abductees, but the bandits killed two of our men two days ago and another one yesterday,” the visibly distressed hunter said in the video.

He explained that despite the risks, local hunters had continued to venture into the forest in attempts to locate and rescue the abducted victims, who were taken deeper into the Old Oyo National Park area by the attackers.

Speaking further in the emotional footage, he said the abducted victims include 32 individuals comprising schoolchildren, teachers and a school mistress, lamenting what he described as a lack of adequate government presence in the affected communities.

“The children they kidnapped in this town are 32, including teachers and a mistress. Please come to our rescue. We need government help. We have not seen anybody. Please help us tell the governor to help us,” he pleaded in Yoruba.

He further recounted how members of the rescue team had repeatedly entered the forest despite mounting casualties.

“We entered inside the bush to locate them. As you can see me, I just came back from the forest. Some of us who went there the day before yesterday, one of us was killed by the terrorists,” he said.

“Yesterday, they killed two people among those of us who went for the rescue. We are appealing to the governor to help us and grant our demands.”