Agune Tegba, an eyewitness and resident of Oriire South Local Council Development Area in Oyo State, has recounted how armed men dressed in military uniforms allegedly deceived residents before carrying out an attack that resulted in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the community.
Tegba shared his account in an interview from 1:48 with Punch Newspapers, on Monday, 8 June, 2026, while describing the events he witnessed during the raid, which has left families searching for missing loved ones and raised fresh concerns about security in the area.
According to the eyewitness, the arrival of the armed men did not initially cause panic because residents believed they were genuine security personnel. He said the sight of men in military attire reassured many people who assumed they had come to provide protection.
“They wore soldier uniforms and people were happy to see them initially. Each of them held two guns,” Tegba said.
The villager explained that the situation changed dramatically when the men began acting suspiciously, making it clear that they were not members of the military. Realising the danger, residents scrambled for safety as fear spread across the community.
Tegba said the attackers appeared organised and heavily armed, enabling them to carry out the operation with little resistance. He noted that their use of military uniforms helped them gain the confidence of residents and reduced the likelihood of an immediate alarm being raised.