President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the operation as a major victory against terrorism and a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated security efforts.
The President congratulated the rescued victims, their families and the people of Oyo State, while praising the courage, professionalism and resilience displayed by the military, intelligence agencies and other security personnel involved in the operation.
He said the successful outcome reinforces his administration’s resolve to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
The Presidency also disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers have been arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several members of the criminal gang were neutralised during the coordinated rescue operation carried out after weeks of intelligence-driven efforts.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed reports suggesting that the victims regained their freedom through a prisoner swap or any form of negotiation with the abductors.
According to the statement, there was no quid pro quo in securing the release of the victims. It explained that one of the terrorist kingpins whose release had reportedly been demanded by the kidnappers remains in government custody and is being prosecuted for alleged terrorism and other criminal offences.
The Presidency said the rescue was achieved through painstaking intelligence gathering, sustained surveillance and close collaboration among the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
It added that a comprehensive account of the operation, including the circumstances surrounding the arrests of the suspects and the rescue of the victims, would be provided by the security agencies.
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s determination to ensure that every individual connected with the abduction is apprehended and prosecuted, stressing that no criminal group would be allowed to undermine the nation’s security or the safety of Nigerian children.
The President further assured Nigerians that his government would continue strengthening the country’s security architecture through enhanced intelligence gathering, improved inter-agency cooperation and sustained investments in modern security equipment and personnel.
The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele and neighbouring communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The attackers whisked away dozens of pupils, students and teachers, killing one teacher during the attack, while another reportedly died in captivity.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the growing threat of mass school abductions, particularly their spread into the South-West region.
It also triggered fresh calls for stronger protection of schools, increased surveillance of forests and rural communities, and more robust measures to combat kidnapping and terrorism.
Throughout the 56-day captivity, the Federal Government maintained that security agencies were pursuing intelligence-led operations to secure the safe release of the victims. President Tinubu repeatedly assured Governor Seyi Makinde, the victims’ families and Nigerians that every available resource would be deployed to bring the abducted pupils and teachers home safely.
With the victims now rescued and receiving medical attention, attention has shifted to the prosecution of the eight suspects in DSS custody and the ongoing manhunt for other members of the kidnapping syndicate still at large.
The Presidency expressed appreciation to the security agencies for their professionalism and sacrifice, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that schools remain safe and that those responsible for acts of terrorism and kidnapping face the full weight of the law.
