By Juliana Francis
Kidnapped pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued following weeks of intelligence-led operations in the Old Oyo National Park forest and other parts of the country, the Nigerian Army has said.
The Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, described the operation as “surgical, intense and well coordinated,” while sharing details of how the victims were freed.
According to Jonah, troops led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, rescued a total of 44 pupils and teachers on July 10, 2026.
The children and their teachers had been abducted by terrorists on May 15, 2026.
The rescue operation, which spanned more than a month, involved collaboration between the Nigerian Army and special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), particularly the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Defence Headquarters, Special Forces elements from the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as local vigilantes, hunters and Amotekun operatives.
The Army said the operation focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins who masterminded the kidnapping, and on dismantling their networks, logistics links, informants and hideouts within the Old Oyo National Park forest in Oyo State.
Multiple arrests were made in Oyo State and other parts of the country during the operation, disorganising the terrorist group and putting it under sustained pressure.
The Army said this pressure ultimately forced the group to unconditionally release the pupils and their teachers. It added that further operations would still be carried out.
The military said the operation was carefully planned to avoid collateral damage and to ensure the safe rescue of the children and teachers, though it disclosed that there were some casualties among security forces.
The rescued pupils and teachers are currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital and will be handed over to the Oyo State Government in due course to be reunited with their families.
The GOC, 2 Division, on behalf of all participating agencies, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic guidance and support, which he said contributed to the success of the operation. He also commended the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and residents of the state for their continued support to security agencies during the period.
Further appreciation was extended to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence; the Chief of Defence Staff; the Chief of Army Staff; other service chiefs; the Inspector-General of Police; and the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA, among other security agency heads, for their support in ensuring seamless coordination throughout the operation.
The Army also thanked media houses and the Nigerian public for their support and confidence in the country’s security architecture, urging citizens to remain vigilant and continue providing timely, credible information to assist security agencies in safeguarding lives and property across the country. #Securitynewsalert.com
