The kidnapped pupils and teachers from Orire Local Government Area in Oyo State have regained their freedom after over 50 days in kidnappers’ custody.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a post via his 𝕏 handle on Friday.
Onanuga said the teachers and pupils were rescued by security forces.
The post read, “Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors. The kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by Security Forces.
“One of the rescued teachers in Oyo sends a thank you message to President Tinubu and the security agencies.”
In other news, a joint security team comprising operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters has rescued a couple abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The victims, Alhaji Busiru Booni and his wife, Alhaja Pitiku, were rescued unhurt following a gun battle between the security operatives and the suspected kidnappers at their forest hideout.
The couple was reportedly abducted late on Saturday, July 5, 2026, after about five armed men invaded Tiro Village in Irawo.
The assailants were said to have fired several shots before taking the couple away to an undisclosed location.
The Oyo State Police Command said the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered an immediate search-and-rescue operation after receiving information about the abduction.
The operation involved police officers, Amotekun personnel, community vigilantes and local hunters familiar with the terrain.
According to the command, the team made an early breakthrough when it recovered a Bajaj motorcycle that had earlier been reported stolen and later abandoned in a nearby bush.
However, the presidency has confirmed that eight kidnappers were arrested, while others were neutralised during the rescue.
President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced in a post via his 𝕏 handle on Friday.
Onanuga said the arrested kidnappers are currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
According to the presidential spokesman, the security agencies will give full details of the account.
The post read, “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 full account soon.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, recently revealed that terrorists responsible for the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State threatened to kill the captives if security forces attempted to rescue them.
The Minister made the disclosure in a preview of an interview with News Central.
According to him, the bandits are using the victims as leverage to try to secure the release of some of their commanders who are in the custody of security forces.
He said: “For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us, and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander.
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