Pat Stevens/
The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation that secured the release of all the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, insisting 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, made the disclosure on Friday in a follow-up statement on X, shortly after announcing that all the kidnapped victims had regained their freedom through the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies.
Providing fresh details of the operation, Onanuga 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.”
The Latin expression quid pro quo literally means “something for something” or “this for that”. In this context, it means there was no exchange or concession by the government in return for the victims’ release.
The latest update provides the clearest official account yet of the operation that ended the ordeal of dozens of pupils and teachers abducted when 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 on May 15.
Earlier on Friday, Onanuga had announced the successful rescue in a brief post on X, stating: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies.”
His latest statement indicates that the rescue operation also dealt a significant blow to the kidnapping network, with eight suspects arrested and taken into the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while other members of the gang were killed during the operation.
The Presidency’s clarification also puts to rest speculation that the Federal Government may have negotiated with the kidnappers or agreed to their demands.
According to Onanuga, one of the conditions reportedly demanded by the abductors was the release of an alleged terrorist kingpin already standing trial, but the government rejected the request and proceeded with the rescue operation.
He added that security agencies would provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation in due course.
The mass abduction had triggered nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity around schools in Nigeria.
During the victims’ captivity, one of the abducted teachers was reportedly beheaded, prompting President Bola Tinubu to condemn the act as barbaric and direct security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining hostages.
The President subsequently 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 sent a high-level Federal Government delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the affected communities to reassure residents of the administration’s commitment to securing the victims’ release.
The successful rescue brings to an end nearly two months of anxiety for the victims’ families and the Ogbomoso community, which had witnessed protests, school closures and repeated appeals for urgent government intervention while security forces pursued the kidnappers.
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