The pupils and teachers who were kidnapped in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been released.
The news was announced on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, through a post on his verified X account.
According to him, security agencies successfully secured the freedom of all the victims.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
However, details about how they were released have not yet been made public. Authorities have not confirmed whether any ransom was paid or provided information about the rescue operation.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area. The affected schools were Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
During the attack, 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a school principal, were taken away by the gunmen.
The incident turned tragic when a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while trying to escape. Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers.
Reports had indicated that the kidnappers made several demands, including the release of detained terrorist leaders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia related laws.
Despite the pressure, the Oyo State Government repeatedly stated that it would not pay ransom for the release of the victims.
The kidnapping sparked widespread concern across the state. The Nigeria Union of Teachers embarked on a month long strike to demand stronger efforts to rescue the victims before later suspending the action in July.
The case also attracted the attention of the Federal Government, with military and police authorities assuring Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of those abducted.
The successful release of the pupils and teachers has brought relief to their families, communities, and many Nigerians who had followed the case closely over the past several weeks.
