IBADAN, Nigeria — Kidnapped Oriire pupils and teachers have been rescued by security agencies, the presidency said on Friday, ending weeks of captivity after an abduction that drew national attention and intensified concern over school security in Oyo State.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, announced the release on X on Friday, July 10, 2026.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
He added: “One of the rescued teachers in Oyo sends a thank you message to President Tinubu and the security agencies.”
The announcement confirmed the release of the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, but the presidency did not immediately provide full details of the rescue operation.
Kidnapped Oriire Pupils and Teachers Freed
The abduction had kept families and residents in anxiety for weeks, with officials repeatedly saying security agencies were working to secure the victims’ freedom.
Earlier reports said the pupils and teachers were taken from schools in Oriire Local Government Area in May, in an attack that prompted federal and state security responses.
Onanuga’s statement did not say whether any ransom was paid. It also did not give the number of security personnel involved in the rescue or the location where the victims were recovered.
A video shared with the announcement showed one of the rescued teachers thanking the president and security agencies for their roles in the operation.
Officials Expected to Give Further Details
The rescue is expected to bring some relief to families who had waited for news of the victims since the abduction.
Security agencies are expected to provide more details on the operation, including the condition of the rescued victims and whether any suspects were arrested.
The abduction had renewed public concern about attacks on schools and rural communities, particularly in areas where armed groups have exploited forests and isolated routes to carry out kidnappings.
