Oyo Abduction: Eight Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed During Rescue

Oyo Abduction: Eight Kidnappers Arrested, Others Killed During Rescue — Presidency

Eight kidnappers have been arrested and others neutralised during the rescue of abducted Oyo pupils and teachers, with authorities insisting no ransom or concession was made.

The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while several others were neutralised during the operation that secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the disclosure on Friday in a follow up post on his verified X handle, providing further details on the rescue operation.

According to Onanuga, the suspects are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services for further investigation.

He also dismissed reports suggesting that the government negotiated with the abductors or made concessions to secure the victims’ freedom.

According to him, one of the terrorist kingpins whose release was reportedly demanded by the kidnappers remains in custody and is being prosecuted for terrorism related offences.

“Updated: in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.

“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon,” Onanuga stated.

He added that security agencies would provide a comprehensive account of the operation in due course.

The rescued pupils and teachers had spent several weeks in captivity after armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area on May 15.

The attack claimed the life of a teacher during the abduction, while another teacher was later beheaded by the kidnappers in a video that drew widespread condemnation across Nigeria.

The incident heightened concerns over the security of schools and renewed calls for stronger measures to protect students, teachers and rural communities from criminal attacks.

The successful rescue has been welcomed as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and terrorism, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network involved in the attack.