All 46 pupils, students and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity, bringing an end to one of the state’s most high-profile kidnapping incidents.
The successful rescue was confirmed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the development in a post on his verified X account.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote, sharing a video showing the rescued victims, including school principal Folawe Alamu, expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the security personnel involved in the operation.
The victims were kidnapped in May when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, sparking widespread concern and prompting a large-scale search operation by security agencies.
According to the Presidency, the rescue followed weeks of coordinated military and intelligence operations in the Old Oyo National Park, where the kidnappers had established their hideout.
Security sources said several members of the criminal gang were neutralised during the operation, while eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and taken into the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.
The Presidency also dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal Government negotiated with the kidnappers or exchanged prisoners to secure the victims’ freedom.
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue,” Onanuga said, adding that one of the terrorist leaders whose release had reportedly been demanded by the kidnappers remains in custody and is facing prosecution.
The rescued victims, comprising 39 children, including a two-year-old toddler and seven teachers, have been taken to a medical facility in Ibadan, where they are undergoing medical examinations, trauma counselling and other necessary care before being reunited with their families.
The Oyo State Government is expected to coordinate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims, while security agencies continue efforts to apprehend other members of the kidnapping network.
The successful rescue marks a significant breakthrough in ongoing security operations against criminal gangs operating in forests across parts of the South-West and North-Central regions.
