After 56 days in captivity, the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued in a major security operation that led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers.
The successful rescue was confirmed by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that security operatives freed all the victims without paying a ransom or agreeing to the kidnappers’ demands. According to him, the suspects are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several other members of the gang were killed during the operation. He also revealed that a notorious gang leader whose release had been demanded by the kidnappers remains in custody and is facing prosecution.
President Bola Tinubu praised the intelligence-led operation carried out jointly by the military, the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as a significant victory for the country’s security agencies. He expressed sympathy for the rescued pupils and teachers over the trauma they endured and directed emergency agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical treatment, psychological support and other forms of rehabilitation.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also welcomed the development, describing the rescue as a tremendous relief after weeks of anxiety for the victims’ families and the people of the state.
In a video released after the operation, one of the rescued teachers thanked President Tinubu and the security agencies for securing their freedom, while the schoolchildren also expressed gratitude for being rescued safely.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities of Oriire. The assault claimed the life of one teacher during the attack, while another reportedly died in captivity.
The kidnapping sparked nationwide outrage, prompting protests by teachers in Ogbomoso and condemnation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which described the attack as barbaric and warned that repeated assaults on schools threatened the safety of both educators and students. The union also organised a nationwide rally, calling for stronger security measures to protect schools across the country.
The rescue brings a hopeful end to a harrowing ordeal and renews calls for sustained efforts to safeguard schools and prevent future attacks on children and educators.#newsafro_
