The Oyo State Government has suspended all school excursions, field trips and other activities requiring students to leave school premises following the deadly attack and abduction of teachers and pupils in Ogbomoso that left one teacher dead.
The move comes as family members, colleagues and friends gathered in Ogbomoso to bury 49-year-old teacher Adesiyan Adegboye, who was killed when armed bandits stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
Adegboye was laid in state at Ayegun Baptist Church before being buried at his residence in the Owolake area of Ogbomoso.
The late teacher was among victims of coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. During the raids, several teachers and students were abducted, triggering panic across Ogbomoso and surrounding communities.
The incident sparked widespread fear among residents, with many parents reportedly rushing to schools to withdraw their children amid concerns over possible further attacks.
Some schools temporarily shut down after rumours circulated that bandits had infiltrated Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). The university later dismissed the claims, describing them as false.
Amid growing anxiety over school safety, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced a series of emergency measures aimed at protecting students and staff across public and private schools in the state.
In a circular signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, B.T. Oyinloye, school authorities were directed to immediately halt all activities that require students to leave school grounds.
“In view of the recent security concerns, the Ministry is taking steps to safeguard the lives of students and members of staff in all schools in Oyo State,” the circular stated.
It added: “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 ministry said all previous approvals granted for such activities had been overridden by the directive.
School administrators were also instructed to keep students within school premises during school hours and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities around schools to security agencies.
“This directive takes immediate effect and will be reviewed as soon as the security situation improves. Kindly ensure strict and necessary compliance with the content of this circular,” the statement added.
The government’s intervention reflects mounting concern over the security of educational institutions in Oyo State following the Ogbomoso attack, as authorities seek to reassure parents and prevent further threats to students and teachers.
