Eight suspected kidnappers have been arrested while several others were neutralised during the rescue operation that secured the freedom of the abducted teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
This followed a coordinated operation involving military, police and intelligence operatives.
The abducted victims, including the principal of a secondary school, were released after spending 56 days in captivity.
They were seized by gunmen on May 15, 2026 during attacks on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L. A. Primary School, in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound joy at the successful rescue of the school children and teachers by security forces.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president praised the heroic efforts of security agencies, especially the military, police and Department of State Services (DSS).
According to him, the president commended the security operatives for working round the clock in the last 56 days to secure the release of the victims without any collateral damage and for arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.
He said Tinubu regretted the anguish that the children and their teachers, as well as members of their families and the entire nation, have experienced since the sad occurrence.
For cooperating with the Federal Government in all rescue efforts, Onanuga stated that President Tinubu commended the Oyo State Government and charged it to ensure adequate security around schools across the state.
Tinubu was quoted as saying: “I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them.”
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular.”
“On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers.”
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.”
“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” the President was further quoted as saying.
Onanuga also declared that the President has directed that emergency agencies work with the Oyo State Government to provide all necessary medical and relief support to the victims.
