Segun Atanda/
All the pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have regained their freedom, the Presidency announced today, bringing an end to weeks of anxiety over one of Nigeria’s most disturbing recent school kidnappings.
The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga stated, without providing details of the rescue operation or the condition of the victims.
The abduction occurred on May 15 when gunmen attacked schools in communities within Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso, kidnapping pupils and teachers.
The attack sparked widespread outrage across Oyo State and beyond, with protests in Ibadan demanding urgent government action to secure the victims’ release.
The incident also prompted swift intervention from the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack, directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities and approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government to strengthen security and support search-and-rescue operations.
A federal delegation, led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, senior military chiefs and other top officials, also visited Ogbomoso to reassure residents of the government’s commitment to securing the victims’ release.
While the Presidency confirmed that all the abducted pupils and teachers were rescued, it did not disclose whether any arrests were made, whether a ransom was paid, or the circumstances that led to their release.
Security agencies had yet to issue detailed statements as of the time of filing this report.
Click on link to join our WhatsApp channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaH43zJGJP88wNggvZ16
0
