The pupils and teachers who were kidnapped in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom after spending more than 50 days in captivity.
The development was confirmed on Friday by President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post shared on his verified X account.
According to Onanuga, the victims were successfully rescued by security operatives following sustained efforts to secure their release.
"Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors. The kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by Security Forces," Onanuga wrote.
He added that one of the rescued teachers had expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the security agencies for their efforts in securing their freedom.
The rescue brings relief to the victims' families and residents of Orire Local Government Area, who had endured weeks of anxiety since the abduction.
Security Forces Rescue Another Kidnapped Couple
In a separate operation, a joint security team comprising operatives of the Oyo State Police Command, the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters rescued a couple abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Oke-Ogun axis of the state.
The victims, identified as Alhaji Busiru Booni and his wife, Alhaja Pitiku, were rescued unharmed after security operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle at their forest hideout.
The couple had reportedly been abducted on Saturday, July 5, 2026, when about five armed men invaded Tiro Village in Irawo, firing several gunshots before whisking them away to an unknown destination.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, immediately ordered a coordinated search-and-rescue operation after receiving reports of the incident.
The operation, which involved police officers, Amotekun personnel, community vigilantes and local hunters familiar with the terrain, recorded an early breakthrough with the recovery of a Bajaj motorcycle earlier reported stolen and later abandoned in a nearby bush.
The successful rescue operations underscore the continued efforts of security agencies to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across Oyo State.