Relief and celebration swept across Oyo State and Nigeria on Friday as security forces successfully rescued all the schoolchildren, teachers and a toddler abducted from three schools in Orire Local Government Area, ending a traumatic 56-day captivity that had gripped the nation.
The breakthrough was officially confirmed on Friday, July 10, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Announcing the development through his official channels, Onanuga stated: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies.”
The successful operation brought freedom to the 46 surviving victims, comprising 39 pupils, seven teachers and a toddler, who were kidnapped during coordinated attacks on schools in Orire on May 15, 2026.
The rescue followed an intensive intelligence-driven operation carried out deep inside the Old Oyo National Park, a vast 2,500-square-kilometre forest reserve stretching across 10 local government areas.
Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier identified the park as the major hideout of a heavily armed splinter terrorist faction responsible for the abduction.
Military sources disclosed that the rescue was achieved without yielding to the terrorists’ demands. The abductors had reportedly insisted on the release of two detained Boko Haram and Ansaru commanders—Mahmud Usman (Abu Bara’a) and Abubakar Abba (Isah Adam)—who are in federal custody, in addition to demanding a huge financial ransom.
Maintaining the government’s policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorist groups, a joint task force comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, launched a carefully coordinated surgical assault on the terrorists’ camp after successfully tracking the hostages’ location.
An emotional audio message released after the operation captured the gratitude of one of the rescued teachers, who thanked President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for their efforts.
“President sir, our father, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety and we appreciate all you did for us. And every security operative, they tried so much, and that is why we are still alive by now. God bless you,” the teacher said
The rescue marks the end of one of the most significant security crises in the South-West in recent years, a development that disrupted academic activities and generated widespread concern across the country.
The crisis began on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen riding motorcycles launched simultaneous morning attacks on three educational institutions—Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, L.A. Primary School and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele.
During the coordinated assault, the attackers abducted 39 pupils, seven teachers and a toddler.
Tragedy struck two days later, on May 17, when the terrorists executed mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun inside the forest in what was described as an attempt to discourage pursuing security operatives. The killing sparked nationwide outrage, condemnation from the National Assembly and prompted public school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite solidarity strike.
On June 13, Governor Makinde disclosed that intelligence reports had located the victims within the difficult terrain of the Old Oyo National Park and assured residents that Amotekun operatives and federal security agencies had been fully mobilised to secure their release.
As the hostages spent over seven weeks in captivity, they crossed the 50-day mark on July 4, amid widespread misinformation on social media. The Oyo State Ministry of Information dismissed reports alleging that ransom had been paid, insisting they were fabricated.
The long wait finally ended on July 10, when the joint security forces overpowered the terrorists’ perimeter and successfully rescued all 46 surviving captives.
Following their rescue, the pupils—many aged between two and sixteen years—along with the surviving teachers and the toddler, were evacuated to a secured military medical facility in Oyo State.
Medical experts are conducting comprehensive physical examinations, nutritional assessments and psychological evaluations to help the victims recover from the trauma of nearly two months in captivity.
State government officials have also confirmed that Governor Seyi Makinde will host a formal reception and reunification ceremony in Ibadan over the weekend, where the rescued victims will be reunited with their families, bringing relief to anxious relatives and closing a painful chapter that had captivated the nation for 56 days.
