Oyo School Abduction: 50 Pupils and Teachers Rescued After 56 Days in Captivity
Nearly 50 pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State have been rescued after 56 days, with security forces arresting eight kidnappers and neutralising several others. No ransom was paid.
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Nearly 50 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued after 56 days in captivity, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against mass abductions. The operation, confirmed by the presidency, concluded without any concessions made to the perpetrators—no ransom paid, no prisoners exchanged.
The abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, targeted three schools in the rural town of Oriire, where heavily armed bandits stormed the premises and took scores of students and staff. Among the captives was Mrs. Folawe Rachael Alamu, the school principal, who upon her release expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies. “Thank you, our President,” she said in a video statement, her voice trembling with emotion.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that eight suspects have been arrested and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several other kidnappers were neutralised during the rescue operation. “The victims were rescued without any concessions to the perpetrators,” Onanuga stated, underscoring the government’s firm stance against negotiating with criminals.
President Tinubu, addressing the nation, described the successful operation as a triumph of resolve. “I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire,” he said. He vowed justice for the victims, including the family of a mathematics teacher who was murdered during captivity—a detail that has deepened public outrage and intensified calls for systemic security reform.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde welcomed the release, calling it “a big relief” and praising the resilience of the affected families. He credited the success to inter-agency coordination and reiterated the state government’s position that refusal to pay ransom was central to weakening the kidnappers’ leverage. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and independent voices, including former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, echoed the sentiment, hailing the rescue as a moment deserving national recognition.
While celebrations erupted across Ibadan and in the affected communities, the scars of the ordeal remain. The incident underscores the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s rural education sector, where schools have increasingly become targets. Yet, in this case, the decisive action of security forces—and the refusal to capitulate—may set a precedent for future responses to such crimes.