Breaking: Eight Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed as Security Forces Rescue Oyo Teachers, Pupils

By Our Correspondent

The Presidency has confirmed the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers during the operation that secured the release of all the teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oyo State, stressing that no concession was made to the criminals despite their demand for the release of one of their alleged kingpins facing prosecution.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement posted on his X account on Friday, shortly after announcing the successful rescue of the victims by Nigerian security agencies.

Providing further details of the operation, Onanuga said eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several others were neutralised during the rescue mission.

He explained that there was no quid pro quo or negotiated exchange with the kidnappers, noting that one of their key demands was the release of an alleged terrorist kingpin currently standing trial for various offences.

"There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, whose release the kidnappers demanded, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will provide a full account of the operation soon," Onanuga stated.

The clarification dispels speculation that the Federal Government negotiated with the abductors or granted any of their demands to secure the victims' freedom.

The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Earlier on Friday, Onanuga had announced the successful operation, stating that all the kidnapped pupils and teachers had regained their freedom through the coordinated efforts of Nigeria's security agencies.

The rescue operation also dealt a significant blow to the criminal network, with eight suspects arrested and others killed during the operation.

The mass abduction sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools across the country. During the victims' captivity, one of the abducted teachers was reportedly beheaded, an incident that drew widespread condemnation.

Following the killing, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining hostages and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The President also approved the deployment of a specialised rescue unit, authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State in collaboration with the state government, and dispatched a high-powered Federal Government delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the affected communities to reassure residents of the government's commitment to securing the victims' release.

The successful operation has brought to an end nearly two months of anxiety for the victims' families and residents of the Ogbomoso area, who had endured weeks of uncertainty, protests, school closures and repeated appeals for urgent government intervention while security agencies tracked down the kidnappers.