The Presidency has announced that security operatives arrested eight suspected kidnappers and neutralised several others during an operation that led to the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, July 10, 2026.
Onanuga said the arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Onanuga disclosed that the rescue operation was carried out without yielding to the kidnappers’ demands, dismissing claims that the government negotiated with the criminals or released any detainee in exchange for the victims.
He revealed that one of the terrorists whose release was demanded by the kidnappers is a notorious kingpin currently facing prosecution for his alleged crimes and remains in custody.
The presidential spokesman said: “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.
Abducted Oyo pupils, teachers regain freedom
“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.”
He added that the security agencies would provide a comprehensive account of the operation in due course.
It would be recalled that some school children and teachers of Baptist Nursery/Primary School, Yawota; L. A. Primary School, Esiele and Community Grammar School, Esiele, near Ogbomoso, were abducted by armed bandits in May 2026.
The hostages were reportedly marched into the dense forest inside the Old Oyo National Park, which borders 10 local government areas of the state and Kwara, Kogi as well as Niger States.
One of the seven teachers abducted by the bandits was later killed in captivity, bringing to two the number of fatalities recorded from the incident as a motorcyclist was killed during the attack.
