Grand Chief Imam of Oyo hails rescue of abducted Oriire pupils, teachers

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam (Barrister) Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has welcomed the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing their freedom after 56 days in captivity as a moment of relief and thanksgiving for the state and the nation.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Islamic leader expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for what he described as the safe return of the victims, saying the development had renewed hope among the affected families and Nigerians.

He said the rescue marked the end of weeks of anxiety following the abduction, which drew widespread concern across the country and prompted sustained rescue efforts by security agencies.

The Grand Chief Imam commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his commitment to securing the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, as well as the directives that culminated in the intelligence-led rescue operation.

He also praised the President’s pledge to ensure justice for the victims and to provide medical care and humanitarian support for the rescued children and teachers.

Sheikh Akeugberu equally acknowledged the role of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, commending the state government for working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies throughout the rescue efforts.

He also expressed appreciation to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abdul Hakeem Abimbola Owoade Elewuetu I, for his leadership, concern and support for the affected communities during the period of captivity.

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The cleric reserved special commendation for the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other intelligence and security agencies, praising their professionalism, resilience and coordinated operations that led to the successful rescue of the victims.

According to him, the dedication and sacrifices of security personnel in protecting lives and preserving national security deserve recognition and continued public support.

He also appreciated Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, media practitioners and Nigerians who stood by the victims’ families through prayers, advocacy and other forms of support while the children and teachers remained in captivity.

While celebrating the successful rescue, the Grand Chief Imam expressed condolences to the family of Michael Oyedokun, the teacher who was killed during the ordeal, praying that God grants them the strength to bear the loss.

He called on governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools and communities to prevent future attacks, stressing that the protection of children and educational institutions must remain a national priority.

The Islamic leader further urged Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies with credible information and to promote unity in the collective effort to tackle kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of violent crime.

The rescue operation ended a 56-day ordeal that began on May 15, 2026, when armed kidnappers attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of pupils and teachers in one of the most significant school kidnapping incidents recorded in Nigeria’s South-West.

Security agencies later confirmed that the victims were rescued during an intelligence-led operation in which some of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised while others were arrested.

Grand Chief Imam of Oyo hails rescue of abducted Oriire pupils, teachers

MURIC demands swift prosecution of Oriire terrorists after rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State chapter, has called for the immediate prosecution of suspects arrested over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that those responsible for the attack must face swift justice to deter future acts of terrorism and kidnapping.

The call followed the successful rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers after spending 56 days in captivity, bringing to an end one of the most disturbing school kidnapping incidents recorded in Nigeria’s South-West in recent years.

In a statement issued on Friday, the General Secretary of MURIC, Oyo State, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his unwavering commitment to securing the victims’ freedom.

He also praised the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, intelligence agencies and other security personnel involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a major victory against terrorism and organised crime.

Agunbiade further applauded security operatives for neutralising some of the suspected kidnappers and arresting eight others during the intelligence-led rescue mission, saying the operation had restored hope to the victims’ families and Nigerians.

He, however, stressed that the successful rescue should not mark the end of the government’s response, urging authorities to ensure that all suspects arrested in connection with the attack are prosecuted without unnecessary delay.

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According to him, President Tinubu’s assurance that justice would be served should be followed by a transparent, speedy and diligent judicial process capable of reinforcing public confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

He warned that prolonged delays in prosecuting terrorism and kidnapping cases could weaken public trust in the rule of law while encouraging criminal groups to continue targeting innocent citizens.

The MURIC official maintained that terrorism, kidnapping, murder and every act capable of spreading fear among innocent people are completely contrary to the teachings of Islam.

Quoting Qur’an 5:33, Agunbiade said Islamic teachings prescribe severe consequences for those who wage violence against society and engage in acts that threaten public safety.

He argued that attempts to associate terrorism with Islam are misleading, insisting that the religion places great emphasis on protecting lives, preserving human dignity and maintaining peace and security.

According to him, Islam forbids not only acts of terrorism but also any action that unnecessarily frightens or harms innocent people.

Agunbiade said those responsible for the Oriire school abduction should face the full weight of the law through a fair and expeditious trial, adding that justice must be both swift and proportionate to serve as a deterrent to others.

He noted that while the rescue operation had restored hope to the affected families, ensuring accountability through successful prosecution would further strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

He urged the Federal Government to sustain ongoing security operations against criminal groups across the country while strengthening intelligence gathering, community policing and the protection of schools and other vulnerable public institutions.

The MURIC scribe added that Nigeria must continue to demonstrate that terrorism has no place within its borders and that those who attack innocent citizens will always face justice through lawful means.

Security agencies recently rescued the abducted pupils and teachers after an intelligence-led operation that reportedly forced the kidnappers to flee their forest hideout, abandoning the victims. During the operation, some members of the gang were neutralised while eight suspects were arrested and are currently in custody for further investigation and prosecution.

MURIC demands swift prosecution of Oriire terrorists after rescue of abducted Oyo pupils, teachers

REVEALED: Inside the intelligence-led operation that forced Oyo kidnappers to flee

Fresh details have emerged on how a coordinated joint security operation forced the kidnappers of abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers to abandon their captives and flee deep into the forest, bringing an end to one of Nigeria’s most high-profile school abductions in recent years.

The successful rescue, which ended the victims’ 56-day captivity, followed an intensive intelligence-led operation involving troops of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Tactical Team, the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Police Air Wing and local vigilantes.

According to security sources familiar with the operation, the rescue mission was carefully planned to prevent harm to the abducted pupils and teachers while cutting off escape routes used by the kidnappers.

Security operatives reportedly advanced through the forest from different directions over several days, combing difficult terrain and engaging suspected members of the kidnapping gang in separate encounters that disrupted their movement and weakened their ability to hold on to the captives.

One of the security sources disclosed that the operation intensified after intelligence gathered from local vigilantes and community members helped security personnel identify areas frequently used as hideouts by criminal groups.

“What happened was that while the soldiers were trekking through the forest searching for where the children were being held, they kept encountering some of the kidnappers on different routes and neutralising them.

“Initially, they thought the kidnappers would all be together with the children. But as the operation intensified, they discovered that the kidnappers had split into different groups and were fleeing through different routes,” the source explained.

According to the source, the local vigilantes provided valuable information that proved crucial to the operation because they possessed extensive knowledge of the forest and the movement of criminal elements within the area.

“The local vigilantes gave them useful information. They told them that anyone found in that section of the forest was most likely part of the criminal network because innocent people don’t operate there.

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“That intelligence helped the security team. Some of the kidnappers exchanged gunfire with the troops, while others escaped through different routes.”

The source further disclosed that security personnel spent several days inside the forest carrying out painstaking search operations before eventually locating the area where the victims were being held.

“They had been inside the bush for days carrying out the operation. They continued combing the forest until they eventually got to where the children and teachers were being kept.”

By the time the troops reached the location, the kidnappers had reportedly abandoned the victims in a desperate attempt to evade capture.

“When they finally got there, there wasn’t a single kidnapper left. They had abandoned the children and teachers and escaped through different routes because of the pressure from the security operation.

“They had already met some of the kidnappers on the way and killed some of them. The remaining ones fled, leaving the victims behind because they could no longer safely move them.”

The source identified members of the rescue team as troops from the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser Tactical Team, personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing, members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and other specialised security units working under the coordination of the National Security Adviser.

“It was a joint task force. But the people who really led the operation were the NSA Special Squad, although military personnel and other security agencies also participated because they were all working under the coordination of the National Security Adviser,” the source added.

The Presidency had earlier confirmed that all the surviving abducted pupils and teachers had been rescued.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development, saying the victims regained their freedom through a coordinated operation carried out by the nation’s security agencies.

He subsequently disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the rescue mission and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several other members of the gang were neutralised.

Onanuga also revealed that no ransom or prisoner exchange was involved in securing the victims’ release, dismissing reports suggesting that the Federal Government negotiated with the kidnappers.

According to him, one of the notorious kingpins whose release had reportedly been demanded by the abductors remains in government custody and is being prosecuted for terrorism-related offences.

President Bola Tinubu commended the military, the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force and intelligence agencies for the successful operation, describing it as a major victory against criminal elements terrorising communities.

The President also directed relevant government agencies to provide immediate medical attention, trauma counselling, rehabilitation and other forms of humanitarian support to the rescued pupils and teachers as they recover from their ordeal.

The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, after heavily armed gunmen attacked three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The coordinated attacks targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, where dozens of pupils and teachers were marched into nearby forests at gunpoint.

The attack claimed the life of Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan, who was shot while attempting to protect the children. Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed while in captivity, a development that intensified public outrage and heightened pressure on security agencies to secure the release of the remaining victims.

The kidnapping triggered nationwide condemnation, protests by parents, labour unions, teachers and civil society organisations, while the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) embarked on an industrial action that disrupted academic activities across Oyo State.

During the crisis, President Tinubu approved the deployment of specialised security personnel and authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security across vulnerable forest corridors in Oyo State as part of broader efforts to combat kidnapping and banditry.

Although security agencies are yet to release a comprehensive operational report detailing every aspect of the mission, the rescue has been widely described as one of the most successful intelligence-led hostage rescue operations carried out in Nigeria in recent years.

Investigations are continuing as security agencies intensify efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the kidnapping syndicate and dismantle criminal networks operating within forests across the South-West.

REVEALED: Inside the intelligence-led operation that forced Oyo kidnappers to flee