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

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.

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