A mother of one of the pupils abducted during the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has made an emotional appeal to the government, recounting how she watched helplessly as armed men gathered her child and other victims before taking them away.

The distraught woman said she had prepared her child for school on the day of the attack and was at home cooking when gunmen invaded the community.

According to her, she was forced into hiding as the attackers began shooting, but from her hiding place, she witnessed the abduction of her child and several other pupils.

“I bathed my child and sent her to school. I was in the kitchen cooking so she would have something to eat when she returned, when I suddenly saw bandits entering our town, and they started shooting,” she said.

“I hid myself and from where I was hiding, I saw them assembling my child together with other children.”

The woman said the incident had left her traumatised and uncertain about the fate of her child, who remains among dozens of pupils and teachers still in captivity.

She explained that she moved to Nigeria in search of better opportunities and now relies on trading to cater for her family following the death of her husband.

“My husband is late and I am the one taking care of my children through my business,” she said.

While acknowledging efforts by the authorities, she pleaded for urgent intervention to secure the release of the abductees.

“The government is trying, but they should please help us bring our child back alive,” she appealed.

The woman’s plea comes weeks after armed men attacked schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 46 pupils and teachers.

Families of the victims have continued to express frustration and anguish as they await the safe return of their loved ones.

Relatives and community members have repeatedly called on both the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to intensify rescue efforts and ensure the abductees regain their freedom. (Sunday PUNCH)