BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, ADEMU IDAKWO, Abudullahi Olesin AND ADEBAYO WAHEED
The students and teachers abducted from a school in the Oriire local government area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending 55 days in captivity, following a rescue operation by security agencies.
The development was confirmed on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who announced the rescue in a post on his verified X account.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
Providing further details, the presidential spokesman disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). At the same time, some members of the criminal gang were neutralised.
“During the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some were neutralised,” he stated.
The pupils and their teachers were abducted on 16 May 2026 after armed men attacked their school in the Oriire Local Government Area, prompting widespread concern about the safety of schools across the country.
Freedom, victory for resilience – Oyo
In its reaction, the Oyo State government described the freedom as a victory for resilience and principled leadership.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government expressed gratitude that the victims had regained their freedom after weeks of captivity.
“We are pleased to inform our people in Oyo State that our children and teachers at Oriire have been released from captivity,” he said.
Oyelade said the successful release marked a significant test of its resolve against criminal elements and stressed that it remained committed to resisting ransom payments despite pressure to adopt what it described as a “quick-fix” approach.
He noted that paying ransoms would only encourage criminals and strengthen their operations.
The commissioner added that the administration’s approach reflected its determination to confront insecurity through pragmatic and sustainable measures rather than actions that could embolden criminal gangs seeking to destabilise the country.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting residents’ lives and property while continuing to work with security agencies to eliminate kidnapping and other criminal activities in Oyo State.
In the same vein, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has thanked President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for the rescue of the kidnapped Orire pupils and teachers.
Speaking on television, he said, “We will use this opportunity to thank our service commanders, the Nigerian police, DSS, the military, and, of course, the president (Tinubu) for pushing really hard to get this done.”
Tinubu vows justice, commends Oyo govt
