Thirty-nine students and seven teachers kidnapped from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been freed after 56 days in captivity. The rescue followed a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, the police, and intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS). During the raid, nine kidnappers were killed, and eight were apprehended.
Video footage shared by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga showed the victims looking frail and exhausted but relieved. Mrs. Alamu Folawe, a vice principal among the rescued, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the security services for their persistence. Sources indicated that the military successfully forced the kidnappers into submission by cutting off their food supply to the forest, which significantly weakened their position.
President Tinubu lauded the security forces for the successful mission, which resulted in zero collateral damage for the hostages. While celebrating the victory, the President expressed sorrow over the death of Mr. Oyedokun, who was killed while in captivity. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State praised the rescue as a triumph for the administration’s refusal to pay ransoms, a stance he argued discouraged future criminal enterprise. The state government remains focused on implementing stronger, sustainable security measures for educational institutions. Relatives of the victims, including Professor Wale Alamu, thanked the government and the public for their support, calling for a thorough review of school security to prevent similar tragedies.