Finally, Kidnapped Oyo Pupils, Teachers Regain Freedom
The pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
The development was confirmed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the successful rescue in a post on his verified X account.
According to Onanuga, all the abducted pupils and teachers were rescued through the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo, have been rescued by our security agencies,” he stated.
However, authorities have yet to disclose the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release or whether any ransom was paid.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
During the coordinated attacks, 39 pupils and seven members of staff, including a school principal, were taken away by the attackers.
The incident turned tragic as a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while attempting to escape, while another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers during the period of captivity.
Reports had indicated that the abductors demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related law before releasing the captives.
Despite the demands, the Oyo State Government consistently maintained that it would not pay ransom to secure the victims’ freedom.
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The abduction sparked widespread public outrage and prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State to embark on a month-long strike to press for the safe return of the victims before suspending the industrial action earlier this month.
The Federal Government had also intensified security operations, with the military and police repeatedly assuring Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims.
The successful release of the pupils and teachers has brought relief to their families, the affected communities, and Nigerians who had closely followed the incident.
