Breaking: Security Agencies Rescue 46 Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers After Weeks in Captivity
By Olusegun HOSEA
The 46 schoolchildren and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending several weeks in captivity.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development on his X handle on Friday, confirming that all the kidnapped victims had been rescued by security agencies.
According to Onanuga, one of the rescued teachers expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for securing their freedom.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies. One of the rescued teachers in Oyo sends a thank you message to President Tinubu and the security agencies,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to disclose details of the rescue operation, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances that led to the victims’ release.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed attackers invaded three schools—Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School—in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were abducted during the coordinated attacks.
The incident turned tragic when a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while attempting to escape. Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers while in captivity.
Reports indicated that the abductors had made a four-point demand before agreeing to release the captives, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The Oyo State Government consistently maintained that it would not pay ransom for the victims’ release.
The abduction sparked widespread outrage across the country and led the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State to embark on a month-long strike to demand the safe rescue of the victims before suspending the industrial action in July.
The incident also attracted federal intervention, with the military and police repeatedly assuring Nigerians that efforts to rescue the victims were ongoing until their eventual freedom.
