There was jubilation on Friday as the schoolchildren and teachers abducted by suspected bandits from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after spending 56 traumatic days in captivity.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen stormed Community High School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele, as well as Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota during school hours.
The attackers reportedly fired sporadically to scare residents before whisking away 39 pupils, seven teachers and a toddler into the forest in one of the deadliest school abductions ever recorded in Oyo State.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage, with parents, labour unions, civil society organisations and religious leaders demanding the immediate rescue of the victims.
The tragedy worsened after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed while in captivity.
Announcing the successful rescue on Friday, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed on his verified X handle that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been freed by security operatives.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
A video released after the rescue showed one of the freed teachers thanking President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for securing their release.
“President sir, our father, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety and we appreciate all you did for us. Every security operative tried so much and that is why we are still alive today. God bless you,” the teacher said.
The rescue followed weeks of coordinated operations by security agencies to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ freedom.
Throughout the ordeal, President Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde repeatedly assured Nigerians that every effort was being made to rescue the captives alive. The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, had also hinted shortly before the operation that troops were making significant progress.
Authorities have yet to reveal how the rescue was carried out, whether any of the kidnappers were arrested or killed, or if any ransom was paid.
The return of the pupils and teachers has been greeted with relief and celebration by their families, residents and education stakeholders, even as renewed calls mount for tighter security around schools to prevent future attacks.
