After spending 56 days in captivity, the students and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom following a coordinated, intelligence-led security operation in and around the Old Oyo National Park.
The victims, who were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle community, were rescued through a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, other security agencies, and local intelligence networks. The incident had drawn widespread concern across Nigeria because it marked one of the most significant school abductions recorded in the South-West region.
According to Nigerian military authorities, the rescue was the result of more than one month of sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated operations rather than a single assault. Security forces reportedly intensified surveillance across the vast Old Oyo National Park, disrupting the kidnappers' logistics, communication channels, supply routes, informant network, and forest hideouts before closing in on the captors.
The Nigerian Army stated that the prolonged pressure mounted by troops and other security agencies significantly weakened the criminal group, eventually forcing the abductors to release the victims. During the operation, several suspects were arrested, while others were neutralised as security forces dismantled the network responsible for the kidnapping.
According to the military, “multiple arrests were made within Oyo State and in other locations across some States in the Country. These arrests completely disorganized the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers”.
Before the successful rescue, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had disclosed that intelligence reports indicated the victims were being held within the expansive Old Oyo National Park, a difficult terrain covering about 2,500 square kilometres. The governor explained that the challenging landscape required patience, careful planning, and sustained security operations to ensure the captives could be rescued safely.
Although the rescue brought relief to families and residents, authorities confirmed that one of the abducted teachers lost his life during the period of captivity, underscoring the tragic human cost of the incident. Investigations are continuing as security agencies work to apprehend any remaining members of the kidnapping syndicate and strengthen security across vulnerable communities in Oyo State.
The successful operation has been widely regarded as a significant breakthrough for Nigerian security forces and a source of hope for affected families, while reinforcing calls for stronger security measures to prevent future attacks on schools across the country.
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