The Oyo State Government has suspended all school excursions, field trips, inter-school sports competitions and other activities involving the movement of students outside school premises following last week’s deadly attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The government’s decision came as family members, colleagues, residents and sympathisers gathered in Ogbomoso on Friday to bid farewell to slain teacher, Joel Adesiyan, who was killed during the coordinated assault by armed bandits.
Adesiyan, an assistant headmaster at Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, was laid in state during a funeral service held at Ayegun Baptist Church before his burial at his residence in the Owolake area of Ogbomoso.
The atmosphere at the church was filled with grief as mourners paid their last respects to the late teacher, whose killing has heightened fears over insecurity in schools across the state.
The late Adesiyan, born on December 11, 1976, was among victims of last Friday’s attacks when gunmen riding on motorcycles stormed schools along the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota axis of Oriire Local Government Area at about 9:30am.
The attackers reportedly invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, Community Grammar School, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, abducting several pupils, students and teachers.
During the attack, Adesiyan and a commercial motorcyclist were shot dead.
Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier confirmed that seven students were abducted from Community Secondary School, while 18 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped from First Baptist Primary and Nursery School.
Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed while in captivity.
Public outrage intensified earlier this week after a disturbing video surfaced online allegedly showing the killing of Oyedokun by the abductors.
The incident sparked widespread anxiety across Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities, with many parents reportedly withdrawing their children from schools amid fears of fresh attacks.
Some schools were temporarily shut after rumours circulated that bandits had infiltrated Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. However, the institution later dismissed the reports as false.
As part of measures to strengthen safety in schools, the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced a statewide suspension of all activities requiring students to travel outside school premises.
The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, B.T. Oyinloye, and addressed to education administrators across public and private schools in the state.
According to the ministry, the measure became necessary because of the prevailing security concerns.
“All school administrators are hereby directed to suspend all excursions, field trips, sports competitions and any other activities that require moving students outside school premises until further notice,” the circular stated.
It added that previously approved activities had also been cancelled, stressing that the safety of students and staff remains the government’s top priority.
School authorities were further advised to keep students within school premises during school hours and immediately report suspicious movements or activities around schools to security agencies.
The directive took immediate effect and will remain in place pending improvement in the security situation across the state.
