Nigerian security forces have revealed that the successful rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State followed more than a month of painstaking intelligence gathering, coordinated surveillance and carefully executed operations that dismantled the kidnappers’ network across Oyo State and other parts of the country.
The Nigerian Army disclosed that the victims regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, after a joint security operation led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, alongside multiple security and intelligence agencies.
According to the Army, the operation brought together personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Defence Headquarters, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian 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 the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
The military said the rescue operation was driven by actionable intelligence and meticulous planning aimed at ensuring the safe recovery of the abducted children and teachers without exposing them to unnecessary danger.
Rather than launching an immediate assault, security agencies spent weeks tracking the terrorists responsible for the May 15 abduction, identifying their commanders, monitoring their movements and mapping out their operational network.
Investigators also focused on dismantling the logistics chain sustaining the kidnappers, including their informants, collaborators and hideouts believed to be located within the vast Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forest areas.
Military authorities disclosed that the operation extended beyond Oyo State, leading to multiple arrests in different parts of the country.
According to the Army, the coordinated arrests disrupted the criminal network, cut off its operational support system and mounted sustained pressure on the kidnappers until they were left with no option but to unconditionally release the captives.
The military described the operation as one of precision, stressing that every stage was carefully designed to minimise collateral damage and prioritise the safety of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Although the rescue was successful, the Army acknowledged that some security personnel paid the ultimate price during the operation, confirming that there were casualties among members of the security forces.
The rescued victims are currently receiving medical care at an undisclosed hospital, where doctors are assessing their physical and psychological condition before they are formally handed over to the Oyo State Government for reunification with their families.
The Army noted that while the victims have been rescued, security operations are continuing to apprehend other members of the kidnapping syndicate and eliminate any remaining terrorist cells linked to the group.
Major General Nnebeife, speaking on behalf of all participating agencies, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as strategic leadership, guidance and support that made the operation possible.
He also thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and residents of the state for their cooperation with security agencies throughout the rescue effort.
The GOC further acknowledged the support of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence; the Chief of Defence Staff; the Chief of Army Staff; other Service Chiefs; the Inspector-General of Police; the Directors-General of the DSS and NIA; and the heads of other participating security agencies for ensuring seamless coordination throughout the operation.
He equally commended the media and members of the public for their patience and cooperation during the prolonged rescue effort, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue providing credible and timely intelligence to security agencies to strengthen ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and protect lives and property across the country.
