Kidnapped Oyo Pupils, Teachers Regain Freedom After 55 Days

– Eight Arrested, Several Neutralised

The pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending 55 days in captivity, the Presidency has confirmed. The release was announced on Friday evening by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a post on his verified X handle: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies”. The announcement brought relief to families who had endured nearly two months of agonising uncertainty, with communities across Oyo State celebrating the safe return of their loved ones.

A total of 46 people—comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers—were abducted when gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota) , Community High School (Ahoro-Esinele) , and L.A. Primary School (Ahoro-Esinele) on May 15, 2026. The Defence Headquarters later identified the abductors as dislodged members of Boko Haram, confirming that the terrorists had crossed into Oyo State from the North-East after being displaced by sustained military operations. The kidnapping triggered widespread concern and prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to declare a statewide strike in Oyo, which was later suspended following assurances from the Oyo State Government on improved security measures.

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In a follow-up post, Onanuga provided further details on the operation, stating that eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some others were neutralised during the rescue. He emphasised that “there was no quid pro quo in the rescue” and that the kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded remains under prosecution for his terrorist activities. The rescue followed months of coordinated operations involving security forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) , the State Security Service (SSS) , the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies, with sources familiar with the operation telling Premium Times that several terrorists were killed during the rescue mission.

The abduction triggered widespread concern, especially after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed and his execution shown in a disturbing video released by the kidnappers. During the 55-day ordeal, security forces faced significant challenges, with Minister of Defence Christopher Musa revealing that the kidnappers had threatened to kill all the children if troops advanced on their hideout. The abductors were reportedly seeking the release of detained terrorist commanders, including Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar) and his deputy Abubakar Abba (also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri), both senior members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) faction of Boko Haram.

Following their release, one of the rescued teachers expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and security agencies in a video shared by the Presidency. The teacher praised the security operatives involved in the operation, saying: “Every security operative tried so much and that is why we are still alive now”. The Oyo State Government has previously denied claims of ransom payment, describing such reports as “false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public”. As of the time of this report, full details of the rescue operation—including where the victims were found—remain unclear. Authorities are expected to provide further information in the coming hours as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the 55-day captivity ordeal.

One of the rescued teachers in Oyo sends a thank you message to President Tinubu and the security agencies. pic.twitter.com/bGeuhvWH7F

— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) July 10, 2026

BREAKING: Kidnapped Oyo Pupils, Teachers Regain Freedom After 55 Days

INEC Disowns Fake CVR Portal, Warns Nigerians of Phishing Scam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned an online portal for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise currently circulating on social media platforms, describing it as a phishing scam designed to harvest the personal data of unsuspecting citizens. The Commission’s Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, issued the warning in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, urging Nigerians to exercise caution and ignore the fraudulent message. The viral post, titled “INEC ONLINE VOTERS REGISTRATION 2026 ONGOING,” has been widely shared on WhatsApp and other digital platforms. It directs users to the fraudulent website https://linksnapro.com/cvrreg, falsely claiming that the registration deadline is August 17, 2026. The post also falsely states that the home addresses provided by applicants would be used to deliver their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

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Ifogah advised members of the public to disregard the message and avoid clicking on the link, warning that doing so could expose users to identity theft and cyber fraud. He emphasised that INEC does not use third-party blogging links or private URLs for official exercises, nor does it deliver PVCs to private residences. The only official and approved INEC portal for all voter registration activities, including updates, transfers, PVC replacement, and registration centre location, remains https://cvr.inecnigeria.org. Ifogah urged citizens to verify all electoral information through INEC’s official website inecnigeria.org or its verified social media handles.

The warning comes as the Commission recently extended the nationwide CVR exercise by two weeks and introduced a self-service online registration option for eligible first-time voters. The exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, was originally scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, but will now close on Friday, July 24, 2026. The new self-service portal, launched on July 8, 2026, allows eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without visiting an INEC office. This development is part of INEC’s broader efforts to leverage technology to enhance voter participation and make the registration process more accessible to Nigerians across the country.

INEC Disowns Fake CVR Portal, Warns Nigerians of Phishing Scam

Soldiers Reject N100,000 Salary as Tinubu Holds Emergency Security Meeting

The Federal Government’s disclosure that the lowest-paid Nigerian soldier now earns N100,000 monthly has sparked criticism from serving and retired military personnel, who say the amount falls far short of addressing the country’s economic realities .

The backlash followed comments by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, who said the government had doubled soldiers’ minimum salary from N49,000 to N100,000 as part of efforts to improve their welfare . The minister made the disclosure during an interview on News Central on Wednesday, ahead of its broadcast on the NC Exclusive programme on Friday . He also admitted, however, that defence funding remains inadequate, stating: “It’s not enough” .

Many personnel argued that the increase remains inadequate and urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his promise of a broader salary review announced earlier this year . On March 7, 2026, during an interfaith breaking of fast with Service Chiefs, the President had assured members of the Armed Forces that his administration would prioritise their welfare, accommodation and other benefits . Serving personnel who spoke on condition of anonymity pressed the government to implement the promised salary increase, warning that poor remuneration was contributing to declining morale and increasing cases of personnel going AWOL .

A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, said the current salary could not sustain military personnel in the face of rising living costs. “It is not enough at all. What is N100,000 with the current situation of the country? It can’t get to anywhere. They should do better. If they pay more, they would put more effort into what they are doing” .

Another retired serviceman, Sergeant Zaki Williams, questioned whether the amount announced by the minister was actually being paid. “I doubt if they are paying up to that amount now. It is a lie,” he said . He also criticised the remuneration offered to soldiers: “Even at that, that money is too ridiculous. Any government paying a soldier N100,000 is not a serious one. If you know what they are passing through, you would not offer them such money. We have been crying but no help. The government has tried, but they can do better” .

The Coordinator of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Herbert-Durowaye, described the salary as insufficient for personnel risking their lives to defend the country . “How can that be sufficient for someone who’s putting his life on the line for the country? We know the cost of living in this country today. That’s not sufficient for any man who is ensuring the peaceful coexistence of the country. It is far from it. My brother, how much is a bag of rice today? We are not talking about children’s school fees, shelter and what have you” .

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Serving personnel who spoke anonymously urged the Federal Government to implement the salary increase President Tinubu announced in March, saying the promised review had yet to take effect . One officer said: “The Federal Government should immediately implement the new salary structure it promised members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria if it is serious about restoring morale and strengthening the nation’s military. Today, many personnel are living in conditions that do not reflect the enormous sacrifices they make in defence of the country” . Another personnel appealed directly to the President: “During Iftar, the President raised our hopes and we were very happy. He should please make it a reality so that everybody will be happy. Things are quite expensive, which has made our current salaries not enough. I personally need the increment as I speak. I have children and dependents to cater for” .

The controversy unfolded as President Tinubu on Thursday convened a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with service chiefs, intelligence heads and senior security advisers to review the nation’s security situation . The closed-door meeting, which lasted more than two hours, brought together the nation’s top military commanders and security leadership .

Those present at the meeting included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.); Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Isa; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.); and Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu .

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The meeting focused on a comprehensive review of security challenges and developments across various theatres of operation . It came two days after troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, supported by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force, disrupted what the military described as a major planned terrorist offensive in Zamfara and Katsina States . During the July 7 operation, three Nigerian Air Force aircraft reportedly tracked a convoy of approximately 300 heavily armed terrorists on motorcycles and conducted precision airstrikes on the formation .

In a separate engagement, troops neutralised Alhaji Tukur, identified by military authorities as a notorious bandit commander and younger brother of wanted kingpin Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye, in Dogon Kade . In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have continued operations against ISWAP and other terrorist groups . Although details of the deliberations were not made public, officials familiar with the meeting said it focused on reviewing ongoing military operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements .

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, the Defence Minister addressed the recent abduction of pupils in Oyo State, alleging that the kidnappers were seeking the release of detained commanders . “You know, it’s a very sad event. Unfortunately, bad things do happen. For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us, and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander” . He added: “They are now threatening that if we come any closer, they’re going to kill all the kids” .

The minister also called for stiffer penalties against kidnappers, including capital punishment. “I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage. If they know once you commit an offence, there must be punishment” .

Badaru also rejected claims circulating on social media that soldiers were poorly fed, insisting that a viral video had been manipulated . “The soldier’s food was okay. There was meat; there was all this. But he told them to pull out those things and make it look as if those things were not there” .

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the Defence Headquarters had issued an official statement on the outcome of Thursday’s security meeting . The State House announced the meeting through a photograph released on Thursday evening but did not immediately disclose the resolutions reached during the engagement .

Soldiers Reject N100,000 Salary as Tinubu Holds Emergency Security Meeting