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
In his response, President Bola Tinubu expressed profound joy at the successful rescue of the children and teachers by the security forces.
According to a statement from his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised the heroic efforts of the security agencies, especially the military, the DSS and the police, for working around the clock over the past 56 days to secure the release of the abducted children and their teachers without any collateral damage, and for arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.
President Tinubu regretted the anguish endured by the children, their teachers, family members, and the entire nation since the tragic incident.
In recognition of the Federal Government’s cooperation in all rescue efforts, President Tinubu commended the Oyo State Government and charged it with ensuring adequate security around schools across the state.
“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso, in Oyo State today, following a military, police and intelligence-led operation that neutralised some of the terrorists responsible for the evil act and led to the arrest of eight of them.”
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff, which lasted for over 50 days, and has brought relief to the entire nation, particularly to the affected families. 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 secure justice for these children and their teachers, and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, whom the terrorists gruesomely murdered.”
“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working with us to bring this unfortunate incident to a successful conclusion,” the President said.
The president has also directed the emergency agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide all necessary medical and relief support to the children and teachers.
8 Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed – Presidency
Meanwhile, the Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State have been arrested, while several others were killed in a security operation that led to the victims’ rescue.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a follow-up post on his verified X handle on Friday, saying the operation was carried out without conceding to the kidnappers’ demands.
According to Onanuga, one of the suspected kingpins whose release was demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted.
“Updated: In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue, as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, whom the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give a full account soon,” he wrote.
He added that security agencies would provide a comprehensive account of the operation in due course.
Turaki-led PDP urges stronger security
Also speaking, the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki has called on the federal government to strengthen security nationwide following the release of students and teachers who were kidnapped in Oyo State several months ago.
The party welcomed the safe return of the victims and called on the government at all levels to take decisive measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, stressing that protecting lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of any government.
In a statement issued on Friday by the national publicity secretary of its Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP expressed relief over the release of the students and teachers.
The party noted that although details of the rescue operation were still limited, it commended the federal government, the Oyo State Government, security agencies, and individuals and organisations whose efforts helped secure the victims’ freedom.
“Although details of the rescue remain limited, we commend the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, security agencies and all individuals and organisations whose efforts contributed to the safe return of the victims,” the statement said.
The party described the abduction as a traumatic experience, stressing that no one should be subjected to such an ordeal in the pursuit of education.
It urged the federal government to take more decisive steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, saying Nigerians deserve a secure environment.
Sen Ali commends security agents
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has also commended President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and their teachers.
Alli, in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan, also praised the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers and the neutralisation of some members of the criminal gang during the rescue operation.
The APC governorship candidate described the operation as a major victory against crime, applauding it as a demonstration of the renewed commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to safeguarding lives and property across the country.
He said the successful operation had rekindled hope among Nigerians that the security architecture under the Tinubu administration was becoming more proactive, intelligence-driven and results-oriented.
The lawmaker said the swift response by the security agencies and the eventual rescue of the victims demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combating insecurity.
“The successful rescue of these innocent pupils and their teachers is heartwarming and reassuring. I commend President Bola Tinubu for providing the leadership and political will required to confront criminal elements head-on.
NGF congratulates Tinubu, commends Oyo
Also, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated President Tinubu and the families of the released pupils and their teachers.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its chairman and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, also commended the Oyo State government for its collaboration with the federal government, which led to the success story.
“We are especially proud of the commitment and professionalism of our security forces throughout the operation. We are confident that this impressive multi-agency collaboration will yield further successes as the security forces continue to neutralise all threats and rescue our citizens who are still trapped in the den of kidnappers.
“While we sincerely share the grief of families and communities affected by kidnapping and related incidents, we appeal to citizens to continue supporting the government’s efforts to protect lives and property across the country, including by providing timely and actionable intelligence to security agencies,” the Forum stated.
