By Opeyemi Adelakun
Security agencies have recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing effort to rescue dozens of pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State, with intelligence operatives identifying members of the kidnapping syndicate and tracing parts of its support network across the country.
The development is said to have piled pressure on the abductors, who are reportedly becoming increasingly unsettled as security forces tighten the dragnet around them.
Security sources disclosed that weeks of intelligence gathering enabled operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), working with the military and other agencies, to identify key members of the gang before launching coordinated operations targeting their associates.
According to the sources, the latest intelligence success has weakened the confidence of the kidnappers, who now fear their operational network has been compromised.
“Their confidence has been shaken. They now know security agencies have made significant progress and are under increasing pressure,” a security source familiar with the operation said.
Another source said combined teams of DSS operatives and military personnel were closing in on the suspected hideout of the abductors, expressing optimism that the victims would be rescued safely.
The victims—39 pupils and seven teachers—were kidnapped on May 15 during coordinated attacks on three schools in Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The abductors had initially demanded the release of detained Ansaru commanders, ransom payments, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related laws before freeing the captives.
However, security sources said sustained pressure from ongoing operations has forced the kidnappers to reconsider some of their demands as efforts intensify to secure the release of the hostages.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, expressed confidence that troops were making steady progress in the rescue mission.
Speaking during activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, Shaibu said ongoing operations were yielding positive results and assured Nigerians that security forces remained committed to bringing the victims home safely.
Reacting to the development, retired military officers described the intelligence breakthrough as a major operational gain capable of disrupting the kidnappers’ logistics and communication network.
While commending the coordinated efforts of the security agencies, they urged authorities to maintain operational secrecy to avoid jeopardising the rescue mission, stressing that the safety of the abducted children and teachers must remain the overriding priority.
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