Pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after nearly two months in captivity.
Their release ended weeks of anxiety among families and residents and followed protests by teachers as well as the closure of public schools across the state over security concerns.
A video circulating online on Friday showed some of the freed teachers and pupils expressing gratitude to God, President Bola Tinubu and security operatives following their release.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, confirmed the development to Premium Times on Friday evening but said security agencies were still gathering information on the circumstances surrounding the victims’ return.
Abimbola said the command would provide an official account after obtaining complete information from the operatives involved.
The police commissioner said during a telephone interview, “We are still working on the details. We cannot just jump into information now.
“Those who have done it were not supposed to have done it. At the appropriate time, we will provide more details. I’m waiting for more details.”
He did not immediately state whether the victims were freed by their abductors or rescued during an operation by security agencies.
The identities and exact number of those released had also not been officially announced as of the time of filing the report.
