The victims, who were kidnapped about two months ago by suspected Islamist militants, regained their freedom on Friday following a coordinated operation involving operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Amotekun Corps.
Announcing the successful operation, President Bola Tinubu, in a post on X, expressed delight over the rescue, revealing that the operation led to the neutralisation of some of the terrorists and the arrest of eight others.
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“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralized some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” the President stated.
Tinubu said the abductors belonged to the Ansaru militant group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, stressing that the government neither negotiated with the terrorists nor paid any ransom for the victims’ release.
Reinforcing the President’s position, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the rescue operation was carried out solely through the efforts of security agencies.
According to him, all the rescued pupils and teachers have regained their freedom, while the eight suspected kidnappers arrested during the operation are currently in the custody of the DSS.
Onanuga also dismissed reports alleging that the Federal Government secured the victims’ release by exchanging one of the terrorists’ alleged leaders.
“In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised. There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities,” he said.
He added that the security agencies would, in due course, provide a comprehensive account of the rescue operation.
“The security agencies will give full account soon,” Onanuga stated.
Reacting to the successful rescue, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde welcomed the development, saying the immediate priority was to reunite the victims with their families.
“Our priority now is to ensure they are reunited with their families,” the governor said.
The rescue brings to an end the victims’ 56-day ordeal, a development that had generated widespread concern and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools, pupils, teachers and communities from recurring attacks across the country.
