Ogbomoso, Oyo State – In a disturbing sign of the times, videos circulating on social media show secondary school students heading to classes armed with cutlasses and machetes for self-protection, fearing another deadly bandit attack in the Ogbomoso area of Oyo State.…....
The development comes days after armed bandits raided several schools in the Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of students and teachers. One teacher was reportedly killed during the incident, heightening tensions and triggering widespread panic.
Eyewitness videos show young students openly carrying long blades as they made their way to school, with some residents expressing both concern and understanding for the children’s actions. “We are scared. After what happened last week, no one wants to be caught unprepared,” a parent told local sources.
According to reports, rumours of fresh bandit movements near schools like Are-Ago High School sparked chaos earlier this week, with students and residents fleeing in panic. Although the Oyo State Police Command has since dismissed the latest rumours as false alarms fuelled by misinformation, the trauma from the previous attack lingers.
Security forces have been deployed to the area, and Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration is working with federal authorities to restore calm and rescue those still in captivity from the earlier raid. However, many parents and students feel the government’s response has not been enough to guarantee safety.
This incident highlights the growing insecurity in parts of Nigeria’s Southwest, where banditry and kidnapping have forced communities to take desperate measures. Residents are calling for stronger security presence around schools and urgent action to tackle the root causes of these attacks.
As videos of armed students continue to spark outrage and sympathy online, many are asking: How bad has the situation become when children feel they must go to school with weapons?
