The Nigerian Army has disclosed that security forces suffered casualties during the month-long operation that secured the release of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, underscoring the heavy price paid to end the victims’ 56-day captivity.
The victims, kidnapped on May 15, regained their freedom on July 10 after what the military described as an intelligence-driven, multi-agency operation that dismantled the criminal network responsible for the abduction.
In a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Army said troops, working alongside personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun, local vigilantes and hunters, carried out carefully coordinated operations across Oyo State and other parts of the country.
According to the Army, the operation focused on identifying the kingpins behind the abduction, dismantling their logistics network and destroying their hideouts within the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding areas.
The military said multiple arrests disrupted the gang’s operations and mounted enough pressure on the kidnappers to release the captives unconditionally.
While emphasising that the rescue mission was executed without endangering the lives of the children and teachers, the Army acknowledged that security personnel recorded casualties during the operation but did not disclose the number involved.
The rescued pupils and teachers are receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital before being reunited with their families through the Oyo State Government.
The Army commended President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic direction and support for the operation, while also appreciating Governor Seyi Makinde, the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and other security agencies for what it described as seamless inter-agency collaboration.
Governor Makinde, reacting to the development, described the successful rescue as a major breakthrough against kidnapping and violent crime in the South-West.
Speaking shortly after the victims regained their freedom, the governor said he was overwhelmed with relief after weeks of anxiety over their fate.
He praised the Armed Forces, the Police, the DSS and other security agencies for their professionalism and acknowledged the support of President Tinubu in ensuring the operation’s success.
Makinde also thanked the media for sustaining public attention on the abduction throughout the 56-day ordeal.
The rescue, however, came at a cost. State authorities confirmed that one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, lost his life during the incident, while an Army lieutenant was killed during the rescue operation.
The successful operation has drawn commendations from across the political spectrum.
Chairman of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), described the rescue as a victory for the state and praised the courage and professionalism of the military, the DSS, the Police and other security agencies.
He said the operation demonstrated that effective collaboration among security institutions remained key to tackling insecurity while urging governments to strengthen intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, also hailed the rescue as proof that coordinated action by government institutions and security agencies could overcome major security threats.
Similarly, the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) commended security agencies for their professionalism but urged the state government to strengthen preventive security measures to avoid a recurrence.
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Oyo State also welcomed the victims’ release, describing it as a huge relief for their families and the wider community while applauding the joint efforts of security agencies that brought the prolonged ordeal to an end.