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•Tinubu orders medical support for victims,
•Says justice would be pursued for beheaded teacher, Oyedokun
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Oluseye Ojo, Lagos
After nearly two months in captivity, abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State were rescued yesterday.
Their rescue, it was gathered, was effected in an operation led by the military, which involved other security agencies.
It was gathered that no fewer than eight of the kidnappers were arrested by the security forces during the operation, while some others were neutralised. Those arrested, it was gathered, are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Their rescue came 56 days after their mass abduction on May 15 2026.
President Bola Tinubu expressed joy over the rescue of the pupils and teachers, praising security agencies for what he described as a successful operation that ended more than 50 days of captivity.
In a State House statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday, the President commended the military, Department of State Services and the police for working “round the clock” over the past 56 days to secure the release of the victims without collateral damage.
He said the operation led to the arrest of eight abductors and the neutralisation of others involved in the attack.
“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” Tinubu said.
The President said the rescue had brought relief to the affected families and the nation, adding that justice would be pursued for the victims and for Michael Oyedokun, the teacher killed by the abductors.
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular,” he said.
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.”
Tinubu also commended the Oyo State Government for cooperating with the Federal Government during the rescue efforts and urged it to strengthen security around schools across the state.
He further directed emergency agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical and relief support to the rescued children and teachers.
56 long days in hell
The victims were abducted on Friday, May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men riding motorcycles launched coordinated attacks on three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
As gathered, 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted.
The attackers struck Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, rounding up dozens of pupils, students and teachers before marching them into the nearby forest.
During the invasion, Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while trying to protect the children.
Also, another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly killed in captivity, further deepening national outrage.
The attackers also abducted school a principal of the secondary school, Mrs Rachael Alamu and several other members of staff before fleeing into the Old Oyo National Park axis.
The abduction triggered weeks of anxiety across Oyo State and beyond, prompting protests by parents, labour unions, teachers and civil society groups.
Shools in parts of the affected area were shut over security concerns.
On May 29, 2026, the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) issued a circular, which directed its Oyo State wing to withdraw services indefinitely. Then, the Oyo State wing formally announced the directive to its members on May 31.
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By Monday, June 1, public primary and secondary school teachers across Oyo State commenced the indefinite withdrawal of services in protest the continued captivity of the abducted teachers and pupils
However, the NUT, on Wednesday, July 1, announced the suspension of the industrial action after engagements with the Oyo State Government and assurances on improved security and rescue efforts.
The union directed its members to resume official duties on Thursday, July 2, 2026,.which ended the one-month strike.
The withdrawal of services prevented primary schools, both public and private, to present candidates for the entrance examination into secondary school, known as Common Entrance, which was supposed to have taken place in June. Following the resumption of official duties, the examination has been rescheduled for early August, this year
During the impasse, President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security in the state as soldiers, police, DSS operatives, local hunters, Amotekun personnel and other security outfits mounted coordinated search operations.
Government officials repeatedly assured the public that efforts were on-going, even as the police dismissed several false reports claiming the victims had been rescued.
Throughout the ordeal, Mrs Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, became the public face of the captives’ anguish after appearing in multiple videos released by the abductors.
Speaking from captivity, she appealed to the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, security agencies, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene, insisting that the children’s lives were in grave danger.
In a later video released after spending about 25 days in captivity, she urged authorities not to politicise their plight and dismissed reports that the kidnappers were demanding ₦1billion ransom, weapons or the imposition of Sharia law, stressing that misleading narratives could jeopardise efforts to secure their freedom.
Her emotional appeals became a rallying point for nationwide calls for the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
The incident was widely described by security analysts as one of the most significant school kidnappings ever recorded in Nigeria’s South-West, which signalled the spread of mass abductions from the country’s northern conflict zones into the South West region.
Both the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government made high-profile visits to the affected communities, following the May 15, 2026 abduction.
Governor Seyi Makinde visited L.A. Basic School, Ahoro-Esiele, on May 31, to sympathise with the families of the abducted pupils and teachers.
During the visit, Makinde assured the families that his administration would do everything possible to secure the safe return of the victims. He also appealed to residents not to blame either the Federal or State Government but to cooperate with security agencies.
He revealed that he had been holding security meetings twice daily since the abduction occurred. He commended the efforts of security agencies, including Amotekun, noting that some operatives had paid the ultimate price in the fight against insecurity.
The governor also told the grieving families: “Don’t cry. I have come here because of you. This government is responsible for you. By the grace of God and with your cooperation, we will bring back our children and teachers.”
The following day, which was June 1, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-powered Federal Government delegation to the affected communities in Esiele and Yawota to reassure residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to rescuing the victims.
The delegation was led by the Chief of Staff to the President , Femi Gbajabiamila, and included the National Security Adviser (NSA),Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd); Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu; Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications. Sunday Dare.
The delegation met with community leaders and families of the abducted pupils and teachers, visited the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso to commiserate with the traditional ruler, visited the family of the slain mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun and conveyed President Tinubu’s condolences.
The panel assured the people of government support, announced that President Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State, disclosed that a specialised security rescue team had been deployed to intensify efforts to free the abductees, and promised to convey the community’s request for a military base in Orire to the President for consideration. The team also assured residents that the rescue operation would be intelligence-driven, combining kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to ensure the victims returned safely
Meanwhile, the rescued pupils and their teachers expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies after their rescue on Friday.
The presidency shared a video on Friday showing the victims thanking Tinubu and the security agencies for their efforts and commitment to ensuring their safe return. They lauded the security operatives for their courage and determination during the rescue operation that led to their rescue..
“We are grateful, Mr President, sir. We are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety, and we appreciate all you did for us. We could see it in your heart. Thank you very much,” one of the rescued victims said.
“Every security operative tried so much and that is why we are still alive now. We are very grateful to you. Thank you very much.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. God bless you, sir. God bless you, sir. Thank you, sir,” the victim added.
