Weeks of coordinated intelligence gathering and security operations led by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have culminated in the successful rescue of 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State.
The victims, who were kidnapped by terrorists from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026, regained their freedom on Friday following an intelligence-led operation that lasted more than a month and involved multiple security and intelligence agencies.
At the heart of the operation was ONSA, working through the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), which coordinated intelligence gathering, operational planning and inter-agency collaboration alongside troops of the Nigerian Army led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General CR Nnebeife.
The operation also brought together Special Forces from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as local vigilantes, hunters and Amotekun personnel.
Rather than pursuing a purely military approach, the operation combined intelligence-led investigations with precision security actions aimed at dismantling the criminal network responsible for the abduction while ensuring the safe recovery of the victims.
According to military authorities, the operation focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins behind the kidnapping, dismantling their logistics network, exposing their informants and locating their hideouts within the Old Oyo National Park forest and other locations.
The coordinated effort resulted in multiple arrests in Oyo State and across other parts of the country, significantly disrupting the group’s operations and placing sustained pressure on its members.
The authorities said the pressure ultimately compelled the terrorists to unconditionally release all 44 pupils and teachers.
Officials noted that the operation was deliberately planned and executed with extreme caution to avoid collateral damage and ensure the safety of the children and their teachers throughout the rescue process, although some security personnel lost their lives during the operation.
The rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed medical facility before being handed over to the Oyo State Government for reunification with their families.
Major General Nnebeife, on behalf of all participating security agencies, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the strategic direction, support and resources that made the operation possible.
He also expressed appreciation to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for facilitating seamless coordination among the various security and intelligence agencies, as well as the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA, and the heads of other participating agencies.
The GOC further thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and residents of the state for their cooperation throughout the operation, while urging Nigerians to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies in support of ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and property across the country.
