By Gloria Drealomalicha
The Presidency has revealed fresh details surrounding the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State, confirming that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation while several others were killed.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development on Friday in a follow-up post on his verified X account, shortly after announcing the victims’ release.
According to Onanuga, the rescue was carried out without any concessions to the kidnappers. He stressed that the government did not negotiate with the terrorists or release any detainee in exchange for the victims’ freedom.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that a notorious terrorist kingpin, whose release had reportedly been demanded by the abductors, was set free. Instead, he said the suspect remains in custody and is facing prosecution for terrorism-related offences.
“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 a full account soon,” Onanuga wrote.
He added that security agencies would provide a detailed briefing on the operation in due course.
The rescue brings relief to the affected families after weeks of uncertainty and anguish.
The victims were abducted on 15 May when heavily armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area. During the attack, a teacher was killed, while another was later beheaded by the kidnappers in a gruesome video that sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in the country.
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