Nigerian Security Forces Rescue 44–46 Abducted Schoolchildren in Oyo After 56-Day Ordeal
Security forces have successfully rescued between 44 and 46 pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State, ending a 56-day captivity. President Bola Tinubu confirmed no ransom was paid, while security agencies credited a joint military operation.
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Nigerian security forces have rescued between 44 and 46 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State, bringing an end to a 56-day ordeal that gripped the nation. The successful operation, confirmed by multiple sources, involved coordinated efforts by the Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Police, and Navy across the Old Oyo National Park.
President Bola Tinubu announced that no ransom was paid and no concessions were made to secure the release of the victims, who were rescued alive and unharmed. In a statement released on July 10, 2026, Tinubu described the outcome as a moment of relief and a testament to the resilience of Nigeria’s security architecture. “The victims were rescued through a sustained and well-coordinated operation,” he said, according to Vanguard News.
The Nigerian Army led the final phase of the rescue, dismantling terrorist networks linked to Ansaru, the group implicated in the abduction. According to Legit.ng, the operation spanned approximately one month, with troops conducting extensive sweeps in the Old Oyo National Park, a known hideout for armed groups. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed on his social media platform that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested, while others were neutralized during the operation, as reported by Daily Trust.
Reactions to the rescue have been widespread. The Council of Fulani Chiefs in South West Nigeria commended President Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and the security agencies for the successful outcome. In a statement, the group’s chairman, Alhaji Mohammed, praised the federal and state collaboration as crucial to the mission’s success, according to Vanguard News.
Multiple state governors also issued statements hailing the federal government’s commitment to national security. Channels Television reported that the operation demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve to protect citizens, particularly in the face of rising school abductions. The victims, who were taken from Oriire Local Government Area, are now being reunited with their families, with officials from the Presidency and Oyo State government overseeing their reintegration.