A primary school headmaster in Oyo State, Matthew Owoade, has been abducted by suspected gunmen in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, days after security agencies secured the release of kidnapped pupils and teachers in another part of the state.
Owoade, 60, heads the Nomadic Basic School in Igbojaye and is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). He was reportedly kidnapped around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday while returning home from his farm in Budo Aare.
According to reports, the abductors later contacted his family using his mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.
Oyo State NUT Secretary, Salami Olukayode, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the union had notified the police, the local government authorities and other relevant officials to facilitate the headmaster's rescue.
He said the union's leadership in Itesiwaju Local Government had reported the case to the divisional police headquarters and was engaging government authorities over the incident.
The victim's son, Abiola Owoade, said the gunmen intercepted his father along the road and took him to an unknown location. Community members who searched the area later found his abandoned motorcycle in a nearby bush on Sunday morning.
The incident has raised fresh security concerns in rural communities across Oyo State, coming shortly after the rescue of pupils and teachers who were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
Family members, colleagues and residents have appealed to the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies to intensify efforts to secure Owoade's safe release.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Police Command had not issued an official statement. Calls placed to the Commissioner of Police and the command's spokesperson were not answered.
