8 Kidnappers Arrested, Scores Eliminated as Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers Regain Freedom
The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers have been arrested while several others were neutralised during the security operation that led to the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed the details in a follow-up statement posted on his verified X account on Friday, shortly after confirming the release of the victims.
According to Onanuga, the arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while security operatives successfully eliminated some members of the kidnapping gang during the rescue mission.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal Government made concessions to secure the victims’ freedom, insisting that no negotiations involving the release of detained suspects took place.
“During the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised,” Onanuga stated.
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue. One of the terrorist kingpins whose release the kidnappers demanded remains in custody and is being prosecuted for his atrocities,” he added.
He noted that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation and the circumstances surrounding the successful rescue.
The abducted pupils and teachers had spent several weeks in captivity after armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area on May 15. During the attack, one teacher was killed, while another was later beheaded in captivity, an incident that sparked widespread condemnation across the country.
The successful operation marks a significant breakthrough in efforts by security agencies to dismantle kidnapping networks operating in the area, with authorities expected to release further details as investigations continue.
