Oyo Schoolchildren, Teachers Freed After 56 Days in Captivity

By Reporter

Pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.

The victims, who were kidnapped on May 15, were released on Friday, although authorities have yet to provide full details of how the operation was carried out.

The development was announced by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a series of posts on X. He shared photos and videos showing the freed pupils and teachers.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.

In another post, he shared a video of Rachael Folawe Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, expressing gratitude to President Tinubu and security agencies for securing the release of the captives.

Providing additional information, Onanuga said eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while others were killed.

He also dismissed claims that the government negotiated the release of any detained suspect in exchange for the victims.

“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,” he stated, adding that security agencies would provide a full account of the operation.

However, Onanuga did not identify the abductors or explain how the rescue was executed. As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government had not issued an official statement on the victims’ release.

The pupils and teachers were abducted after armed men invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, all in Oriire LGA. The Defence Headquarters later identified the attackers as members of the JAS Group, a faction of Boko Haram.

During the 56-day ordeal, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed after the kidnappers reportedly beheaded him. A video of the teacher in captivity had earlier circulated before his death.

While in captivity, Alamu appeared in several videos appealing to the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to negotiate with the kidnappers rather than pursue a military rescue.

In one of the videos, she claimed the abductors had threatened to execute another captive following a rescue attempt by security forces.

“The force that they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problem. One of us has been picked, and they are going to kill him because the government tried to help us by force,” she said, urging President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to engage in dialogue with the kidnappers.

She also stated in another video that the abductors were demanding the release of their detained members rather than money or vehicles.

Earlier reports indicated that a rescue attempt by soldiers and local vigilantes in the forest where the victims were held met stiff resistance. At least three vigilantes were reportedly killed after triggering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the abductors.