Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has announced that all the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued by security agencies after spending 56 days in captivity.
Onanuga disclosed the development in a post on X, writing, “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies.”
The victims were abducted on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele community of Oriire LGA, kidnapping 39 pupils and seven teachers during coordinated assaults on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
The abduction sparked nationwide outrage after one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed in captivity.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently condemned the attack and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining victims, assuring Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not provided details of the rescue operation, including where the victims were freed, their condition or whether any suspects had been arrested.
Dockaysworld has received more details. In a subsequent update, Onanuga said eight of the suspected kidnappers were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while others were killed.
He added, “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.”
