…Eight kidnappers arrested, others killed, says Onanuga

…‘Big Relief,’ Gov Makinde Hails Security Agencies

…Attention should now be shifted to Borno – Ndume Reacts

President Bola Tinubu has expressed delight over the successful rescue of abducted children and teachers from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, commending the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force for ending their 56-day captivity.

The President said the security operation led to the arrest of eight suspected abductors while several others were neutralised, describing the outcome as a major relief for the victims, their families and the nation.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised the security agencies for what he described as their tireless efforts in securing the victims’ release.

He also sympathised with the children, teachers and their families over the trauma they endured during the prolonged ordeal.

The President further commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation with the Federal Government throughout the rescue operation and urged the state to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar incidents.

President Tinubu also directed emergency response agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide the rescued children and teachers with all necessary medical care and relief support as they recover from the ordeal.

“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 neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular. On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers,” he added.

The President, however, said that his administration will get justice for the children and their teachers as well as the families of one of the teachers who was murdered by the terrorists.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.

“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” the President said.

The presidency on Friday evening announced the rescue of the victims 57 days after they were kidnapped by terrorists on May 15, 2026.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said in a post on X.

He revealed that eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the DSS.

The aide said the rescue operation did not involve any exchange or concession to the kidnappers, noting that a notorious gang leader whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted for his alleged crimes.

“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 whose release was demanded by the kidnappers, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon,” Onanuga added.

In a video shared alongside the aide’s statement, a woman believed to be one of the rescued teachers was seen thanking the President for securing their release.

“Hello, sir, our father, we are grateful. Mr President, sir, we are grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety, and we appreciate all you did for us. We could see your hand in this.

“Thank you very much. Every security operative tried so much, and that is why we are still alive today. We are very grateful to you. Thank you very much,” the teacher was heard saying.

In the same vein, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has welcomed the release of the schoolchildren and teachers who were kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, describing it as a ‘big relief’.

“It’s such a big relief for all of us and for those that are waiting, you know, for this past 57 days,” Makinde told Channels Television on Friday.

“I think it’s a big relief for all of us, and we’ll use the opportunity to say thank you to our service commanders, the Nigeria Police, the DSS, the military, and the high command, and of course the President, for pushing really hard to have this done.

“I think I’m just right now overjoyed, and I cannot really say much. I will talk much later when I can put my thoughts together,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has given further details on the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

It said eight of the kidnappers have been arrested and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services, while some others were neutralised during the operation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a follow-up post on his verified X handle on Friday after he announced the victims’ release.

He said no concession was made to the terrorists to secure the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers.

Onanuga explained that the kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded was neither freed nor spared, as he remains under prosecution for offences linked to his terrorist activities.

He wrote, “Updated: 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. The security agencies will give full account soon.”

He added that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive account of the operation.

The pupils and teachers had spent weeks in captivity after gunmen stormed three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of the local government area on May 15, killing a teacher and later beheading another in a video that sparked national outrage.

Also, Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has reacted to the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted from Oyo state.

Featuring in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Ndume said attention should now be shifted to Borno and his constituency in particular.

Reacting, the lawmaker said, “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the military to shift their attention now to my senatorial district and help us get these people back.

“Our people, our children in my senatorial district are under captivity. 42 of them. We have over 30 people from Lassa that were captured recently.

“We still have a leftover of over 50 people in another place. They released some out of the 400 and we still have some people in captivity that were kidnapped.