Gunmen abducted at least 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers in Nigeria’s southwestern Oyo ​state, killing one teacher in captivity and wounding ‌security operatives with explosive devices during a rescue attempt, authorities said on Monday.

The attack took place on Friday in Ahoro Esinele ​community in Oriire district, targeting multiple schools, including ​a secondary school and two primary schools, officials ⁠said.

Governor Seyi Makinde said one abducted teacher was ​killed on Sunday, citing a video. Six suspects have ​been arrested locally, including alleged informants and logistics suppliers to the kidnappers, he said.

A joint rescue operation by soldiers, police, and local “vigilantes” ​was disrupted after operatives encountered improvised explosive devices ​planted by the attackers, leaving several wounded, Makinde added.

Those injured ‌are ⁠receiving treatment, he said.

President Bola Tinubu condemned the killing as “barbaric” and said federal authorities were working with the state to rescue all the victims. Police had deployed ​tactical and intelligence ​teams to ⁠the area, he said in a statement.

Mass kidnappings by armed groups have become a ​major security challenge in Nigeria in recent ​years, ⁠with criminal gangs exploiting weak security and porous borders to target travellers, students and rural communities for cash and ⁠in-kind ​payments.

Schools are often targeted, although such ​attacks are less frequent in the southwest of the country.

REUTERS