All the pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have been rescued and are safe, the Nigerian Presidency has confirmed.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the announcement on X on Friday. According to him, the victims were rescued by a joint team of security agencies after weeks in captivity.
“All the teachers and pupils abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state have regained their freedom,” Onanuga posted. He added that one of the rescued teachers sent a message of appreciation to Presid
The incident occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles wearing military camouflage. They stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele.
The gunmen shot sporadically to create panic before abducting dozens of pupils and at least seven teachers. Among those taken were children as young as two years old.
After the abduction, the assailants moved their victims into the thick forests around the Old Oyo National Park. The park and its surrounding areas have in recent years become a corridor for armed groups operating across Oyo, Kwara, and Niger states.
The attack triggered immediate panic in Ogbomoso and neighboring communities. Parents kept their children at home, and many families temporarily relocated. The Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo State chapter, declared an indefinite strike, demanding
Following the abduction, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with federal security agencies, launched a coordinated rescue mission. The operation involved personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, and local hunters familiar with the terrain.
Security sources said the rescue team tracked the abductors into the forest reserves and engaged them in several gun battles over the past few weeks. The difficult terrain and the decision by the kidnappers to keep moving made the operation challenging.
Civil society organizations, student groups, and prominent Nigerians also mounted pressure on the government. Protests were held in Ibadan, Abuja, and Lagos, with demonstrators calling for the safe return of the children and better protection for schools across the country.
The case drew national attention because it was one of the first major school abductions recorded in Nigeria’s Southwest region. For years, mass kidnappings of students had been mostly reported in the North. The Ogbomoso attack raised fresh concerns about the spread of insecurity to other parts of the countr
With the confirmation of their release on July 10, parents and community leaders in Oriire LGA expressed relief. Schools that had been shut since May are expected to undergo security assessments before reopening.
In his statement, Onanuga did not provide details on how the rescue was carried out or whether any ransom was paid. He, however, commended the bravery of the security forces and the cooperation of local communities that provided intelligence during the operation.
The Presidency also reiterated its commitment to protecting schools and ensuring that such incidents do not recur.
The attack and eventual rescue have reignited debate about the safety of learning environments in Nigeria. Education stakeholders are now calling for the full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, which includes perimeter fencing, security personnel, and early warning systems in vulnerable areas.
The Oyo State Government has said it will meet with traditional rulers, school owners, and security agencies next week to review safety protocols across all public and private schools in the state.
For now, families in Ogbomoso are focused on the recovery of the rescued pupils and teachers. Counseling and medical support are being arranged to help the victims reintegrate after nearly two months in captivity.
The release brings to an end a tense period for Oyo State, but it also serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address insecurity around schools nation
