Relief has spread across Oyo State after school pupils and their teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area regained their freedom following a coordinated security operation that also led to the killing of eight suspected terrorists and the arrest of eight others.
The successful rescue marks a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and terrorism, following weeks of sustained intelligence-driven operations by Nigerian security agencies.
Confirming the development on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the rescue in a post on his verified X account.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
The Presidency did not immediately disclose details of the operation or the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release.
Further details later revealed that the rescue was carried out through a Defence Headquarters-directed Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF), acting on the directive of President Bola Tinubu after the victims were abducted on May 15, 2026.
The task force comprised personnel from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and specialised units coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Security operatives launched a carefully planned operation deep into the Oyo National Forest, believed to be the stronghold of the Ansaru terrorist group. Troops advanced from multiple directions over a three-week period, supported by continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as close air support from the Nigerian Air Force and the Police.
The operation led to the destruction of key terrorist communication facilities and logistics bases while ensuring the safety of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Security agencies also dismantled the terrorists’ support network by arresting informants, collaborators and other suspected enablers in communities surrounding the forest. Family members of some Ansaru operatives were also taken into custody, a development that reportedly triggered defections within the terrorist group.
According to senior military sources, the sustained pressure weakened the terrorists’ command structure and forced them to release the victims unconditionally on July 8, 2026.
The rescued pupils and teachers have since been handed over to the Oyo State Government after undergoing medical examinations and receiving initial psychosocial support before reuniting with their families.
The operation has been described by security officials as a model of intelligence-led joint operations, highlighting the effectiveness of coordinated action among Nigeria’s security agencies in rescuing victims while degrading terrorist capabilities.
