Nigerian security forces have rescued 46 students who were held captive by Islamist militants for about 56 days following their abduction from three schools in Orire, Oyo State.
The children were kidnapped on May 15 in an incident that sparked nationwide concern, as large-scale school abductions are uncommon in Nigeria’s southern regions.
Government spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced on Friday that the rescue operation successfully freed all 46 students. Several militants were killed during the operation, while eight suspects were arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the military, police and intelligence agencies for the operation, stressing that the government did not pay any ransom to secure the students’ release.
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families,” President Tinubu said.
He added that the rescue followed a coordinated security operation that neutralised some of the militants responsible for the abduction and led to the arrest of others.
Community impact
The abduction of the students from the farming communities of Esiele and Yawota triggered widespread protests and prolonged teachers’ strikes across Oyo State.
Authorities also confirmed that a teacher was killed during the initial attack on the schools.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said the government’s immediate priority was to reunite the rescued students with their families and provide them with the necessary support.
Wider security concerns
Nigerian authorities have linked the kidnapping to the Ansaru militant group, a faction associated with Boko Haram.
Although mass school kidnappings have largely occurred in northern Nigeria, the Orire incident raised concerns about the spread of militant activities into the country’s southwest.
The rescue also comes as dozens of children abducted on the same day in Borno State remain in captivity, highlighting Nigeria’s continuing security challenges.
The latest incident has drawn comparisons with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction by Boko Haram, in which 276 girls were kidnapped, with many still unaccounted for years later.
The Nigerian government says it will continue strengthening military and intelligence operations, while working with international partners to combat terrorism and improve security across the country.
