The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while several others were neutralised during the operation that secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the disclosure in a follow-up post on his verified X account on Friday, shortly after announcing that the victims had regained their freedom.
According to Onanuga, the rescue operation was carried out without any concessions to the kidnappers, despite their demand for the release of a suspected terrorist kingpin currently facing prosecution.
He wrote: “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, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
Earlier, Onanuga had announced the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, stating: “Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo, have been freed by their abductors.”
The victims were abducted weeks ago in the Ahoro-Esinle community of Oriire Local Government Area during a coordinated attack on schools that sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of educational institutions.
Their abduction drew national attention, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders urging the government to intensify efforts to secure their release and improve security around schools.
The latest update from the Presidency indicates that the operation also dealt a significant blow to the criminal network responsible for the abduction, with eight suspects now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and others killed during the rescue mission.
Security agencies are expected to provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation and the circumstances surrounding the victims’ rescue in the coming days.
