By Gloria Drealomalicha
For 56 agonising days, families of dozens of pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State lived in fear, praying for the safe return of their loved ones.
That anxious wait finally came to an end after a painstaking intelligence-led operation coordinated by the Nigerian Army and supported by several security and intelligence agencies led to the safe rescue of the victims.
The successful operation sparked jubilation across Oyo State, particularly in Ogbomoso, where residents, motorists and passers-by reportedly celebrated as news of the rescue spread. Across the country, many Nigerians also praised the bravery of the security personnel involved while paying tribute to officers who paid the ultimate price during the mission.
According to the Nigerian Army, the operation was coordinated by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, alongside personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, as well as local hunters and community vigilantes.
The Man Behind the Operation
Major General Nnebeife, who assumed command of the Army’s 2 Division in Ibadan on 19 August 2025, supervised the operation that ultimately secured the victims’ freedom.
Known for prioritising intelligence gathering and troop welfare, the senior military officer had previously led troops in a successful rescue mission in Babasango Forest, Kwara State, where two kidnapped victims regained their freedom.
He also serves as the Force Commander of Operation FANSAN YAMA Sector 3, one of the Nigerian Army’s major internal security operations.
A Carefully Planned Multi-Agency Mission
Military authorities stressed that the rescue was not the work of a single agency but the result of weeks of coordination among Nigeria’s security architecture.
The operation, which lasted more than a month before ending on 10 July 2026, brought together elite personnel from the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, Defence Headquarters Special Operations Forces, Nigerian Army Special Operations Forces snipers, ONSA special units, the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the DSS Special Tactical and Anti-Terrorism Team.
The Nigerian Air Force provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, while the NSCDC, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes played key roles on the ground.
Breaking the Kidnappers’ Network
Security forces concentrated their operations around the Old Oyo National Park after intelligence revealed that the kidnappers had established camps, supply routes and a network of informants within the area.
The operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers in Oyo and neighbouring states.
According to both the Presidency and the Army, sustained military pressure, combined with the elimination of some members of the criminal group and the disruption of their logistics network, forced the abductors to release the captives.
The Federal Government also stood firm by rejecting the kidnappers’ reported demand for the release of a Boko Haram suspect facing terrorism charges.
A Costly but Successful Operation
Although the rescue ended without harm to the pupils and teachers, the Army confirmed that some security personnel lost their lives during the mission.
Military authorities withheld details of the casualties but said the operation was meticulously planned to protect the hostages and minimise collateral damage.
Families Finally Reunited
Following their rescue, the pupils and teachers were taken to an undisclosed medical facility for examination and treatment before they were reunited with their families through the Oyo State Government.
The victims had been abducted 56 days earlier when armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping 39 pupils and seven teachers.
President Bola Tinubu later applauded the security agencies for the successful operation, noting that the victims were rescued without the payment of ransom.
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