Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District, has disclosed that suspected kidnappers behind the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State may have conducted surveillance in the affected community days before the attack, using seemingly harmless commercial activities to gather intelligence.
The lawmaker made the revelation on Friday during an appearance on Arise Prime Time on Friday June 5th, 2026, where he provided insight into circumstances surrounding the mass abduction in Orire Local Government Area of the state.
According to Buhari, security investigations uncovered suspicious activities that, in retrospect, appeared to have been part of the attackers’ preparations before striking the community.
He recounted the case of a local woman who sold beans and bread in the area and experienced an unusual surge in patronage shortly before the attack. Ordinarily, the woman earned between ₦1,000 and ₦1,200 daily from her business. However, for two consecutive days preceding the incident, her sales reportedly increased dramatically, with daily earnings ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000.
The senator explained that the woman viewed the development as an unexpected improvement in business and had no reason to suspect foul play at the time. It was only after the attack that residents and security officials began to connect the unusual purchases to the activities of the kidnappers.
According to Buhari, investigations later suggested that the individuals making the purchases were likely carrying out reconnaissance operations and gathering information about the community before launching the abduction.
The lawmaker said the development highlights the growing sophistication of criminal groups, which often blend into local communities and exploit routine activities to avoid detection while planning attacks.
Buhari argued that many security breaches could be prevented if suspicious developments were promptly reported to relevant authorities. He added that communities must be better educated on the importance of sharing information with security agencies, particularly when unfamiliar persons suddenly appear or engage in activities that deviate from established patterns.
The revelation comes amid heightened concern over the abduction of dozens of pupils, teachers and other victims in Orire Local Government Area, an incident that has renewed scrutiny of security arrangements in rural communities and underscored the importance of grassroots intelligence in preventing attacks….Discover More
