The 44 pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom following an intensive intelligence-driven operation that dismantled the criminal network responsible for their kidnapping.
Military authorities disclosed that the successful rescue was the outcome of more than a month of carefully coordinated operations led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, in collaboration with multiple security and intelligence agencies.
According to the Army, the operation brought together personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser through the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Defence Headquarters, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as local vigilantes, hunters and the Amotekun Corps.
The rescue mission focused on tracking down the kidnappers who abducted the victims on May 15, 2026, while also identifying and dismantling their operational network within the Old Oyo National Park and other locations linked to the criminal syndicate.
Security operatives reportedly carried out a series of coordinated raids that led to multiple arrests in Oyo State and several other parts of the country. The arrests disrupted the group’s logistics, exposed its informants and hideouts, and mounted sustained pressure that eventually forced the kidnappers to release the victims unconditionally.
Military authorities noted that the operation was deliberately planned to prioritise the safety of the abducted children and teachers, ensuring their rescue without exposing them to unnecessary danger. They, however, revealed that some security personnel paid the ultimate price during the operation, although no further details were provided.
The rescued pupils and teachers are currently receiving medical care at an undisclosed hospital before being handed over to the Oyo State Government for reunification with their families.
The Nigerian Army expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as strategic leadership and support that contributed to the success of the operation.
The Army also thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for his continued support to security agencies throughout the rescue efforts, alongside the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, other Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA, and heads of other participating security agencies for ensuring effective inter-agency collaboration.
Commending the media and Nigerians for their patience and confidence in the country’s security architecture, the Army urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies to enhance efforts at protecting lives and property across the country.
