Three gunmen who allegedly stormed into two primary schools in a rare attack in southwestern Nigeria were taken into custody, police said on Saturday.

Authorities were still assessing the number of schoolchildren that might have been abducted, police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka told The Associated Press.

Gunmen attacked two primary schools in the Oriire area of Oyo state, about 220 kilometres from Lagos, in the early hours of Friday. The suspects, who were identified by the community, were arrested, Olayinka said.

Police didn't say if they were searching for more suspects.

Ransoms

Analysts say the armed groups, including terrorist group Boko Haram, often target schools for ransoms.

Last year, two mass abductions from schools rocked the West African nation, with more than 300 children taken in northern region.