admin
The presidency says all the teachers and pupils abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state have regained their freedom.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, announced on X on Friday that they were rescued by security agencies.
The presidential spokesperson did not give details about the process that led to the release of the abductees.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.
TheCable understands that the pupils and their teachers were rescued during a joint operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army and the police, backed by intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS).
A security source said at least nine of the bandits were killed during the operation, while eight were arrested and are in the custody of the DSS.
On May 15, gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA.
The Oyo police command said two people were killed during the attack on the schools. At least 45 schoolchildren and teachers were reportedly kidnapped during the incident.
The incident prompted the Oyo state government to shut schools in four LGAs as security agencies intensified rescue efforts.
On May 18, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says one of the teachers abducted during the recent terrorist attack was killed in captivity.
Speaking at a press briefing on the incident, Makinde described the situation as “difficult and challenging”, saying the state government was intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
Waidi Shaibu, the chief of army staff (COAS), had on July 5 said troops were making “tremendous progress” towards rescuing the abducted 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers.
