After 56 days of captivity, the ordeal is finally over — and the Nigerian Army is now revealing exactly how it happened.
According to the Army, the “unconditional release” of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area was the result of a sustained, month-long intelligence operation that systematically dismantled the terrorist network holding them.
What Happened
On May 15, terrorists stormed three schools — Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community High School in Ahoro-Esinele, and L.A. Primary School, also in Ahoro-Esinele — abducting 46 people in total: 39 students and seven teachers.
The attack turned deadly almost immediately. One teacher, Adegboye Adesiyan, was killed on the spot during the raid. A second teacher, Michael Oyedokun, died later while in captivity. Those two deaths brought the number of people ultimately freed down to 44.
The remaining captives spent nearly two months in the hands of their abductors before finally regaining their freedom on Friday.
How the Army Says It Was Done
The operation was led by the General Officer Commanding of 2 Division, CR Nnebeife, in a joint effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the National Intelligence Agency, the State Security Service, the armed forces, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Defence Headquarters, the police, Amotekun corps, and local vigilantes and hunters.
According to army spokesperson Jonah Danjuma, the strategy wasn’t a single dramatic raid — it was a slow, deliberate campaign aimed at the group’s leadership, logistics, and informant network. Investigators worked to identify the kingpins behind the abduction and to dismantle their hideouts inside the Old Oyo National Park forest.
That pressure translated into multiple arrests, both within Oyo State and in other parts of the country, which Danjuma said progressively disorganized the group. “The arrests completely disorganised the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers,” he explained.
Danjuma said the entire operation was designed to prioritize the hostages’ safe recovery while minimizing collateral damage — though he acknowledged that security forces did suffer casualties during the campaign, without disclosing numbers or identities.
Where Things Stand Now
The rescued students and teachers are currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital, ahead of being formally handed over to the Oyo State Government to be reunited with their families.
President Bola Tinubu publicly celebrated the release, calling the efforts of security operatives “heroic.” He disclosed that a number of the terrorists were killed during the operation and that eight others were arrested. The president has directed emergency response agencies to work alongside the Oyo State Government to provide medical and relief support to the victims, and has pledged that his administration will pursue justice for what happened to them.
Governor Seyi Makinde also praised the operation, stressing in particular that no ransom was paid to secure the students’ freedom.
According to the Army, the mission isn’t over. Further operations are planned to hunt down remaining members of the network and dismantle any surviving cells connected to the abduction.