The Oyo State Government and the Federal Government on Friday confirmed the release of the pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The federal government revealed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while several others were neutralised during the security operation that secured the victims’ freedom.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a follow-up statement on his verified X handle, saying the successful rescue was achieved without conceding to the kidnappers’ demands.
According to him, eight members of the kidnapping syndicate are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while other members of the gang were neutralised during the operation.
Onanuga also dismissed claims that the Federal Government negotiated with the abductors or released any detainee in exchange for the victims.
He stated that the notorious kingpin whose release had been demanded by the kidnappers remains in custody and is facing prosecution for terrorism-related offences.
“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,” he said.
He added that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive briefing on the rescue operation.
The abducted pupils and teachers had spent several weeks in captivity after armed men invaded three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The attack claimed the life of a teacher, while another victim was later beheaded in captivity, with the gruesome act captured in a video that sparked nationwide outrage and intensified calls for decisive action against kidnappers.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government described the victims’ release as a triumph of resilience, coordinated security efforts and principled leadership.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the state government expressed gratitude that the pupils and teachers had regained their freedom after weeks in captivity.
“We are happy to report to our people in Oyo State that our children and teachers at Oriire have been released from captivity,” the statement read.
Oyelade said the successful rescue represented a major test of the state’s resolve against criminality, noting that the government resisted intense pressure to pay ransom despite public appeals for a quicker resolution.
He maintained that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration deliberately refused to fund criminal activities through ransom payments, insisting that such an approach would only embolden kidnappers and strengthen their operations.
According to the commissioner, the government’s strategy reflects a commitment to confronting insecurity through sustainable security measures rather than temporary solutions capable of encouraging criminal gangs.
He reaffirmed the administration’s determination to continue working closely with security agencies to safeguard lives and property and rid Oyo State of kidnapping and other violent crimes.