Eight kidnappers arrested, others killed as Oyo school children, teachers regain freedom — Presidency
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has said eight terrorists were arrested, others neutralised leading to the rescue of all the pupils and teachers abducted in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Onanuga, in a post shared on his verified X handle, confirmed that all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire had been rescued, writing that they had “finally” regained their freedom.
In a follow-up update, he disclosed details of the operation that led to their release. He said that in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some others were neutralised.
Addressing concerns over how the rescue was secured, the presidential spokesman said no concessions were made to the abductors. He explained that there was no quid pro quo in the rescue, noting that one of the terrorists — a kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded — is being prosecuted for his atrocities.
Onanuga added that security agencies would soon give a full account of the operation.
The victims — 39 pupils and seven teachers — were abducted on May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota and two other schools in Esinle, both in Oriire council area of the state.
Their abductors had initially demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related conditions, specifically naming Ansaru commanders Mahmud Usman (alias Abu Bara’a) and his deputy Abubakar Abba as those they wanted freed.
In the weeks preceding the rescue, security sources had disclosed that a major intelligence breakthrough by the DSS enabled operatives to identify key members of the kidnapping gang and trace their associates across the country, piling pressure on the abductors and weakening their resolve.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, had also expressed confidence that troops were making steady progress toward securing the victims’ safe release.
