The Presidency has confirmed that all pupils, teachers and other victims abducted during the attack on a secondary school in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Friday, describing the operation as a successful rescue by security agencies.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.
The announcement brings relief after weeks of anxiety over the fate of the victims, whose abduction sparked widespread concern across the country.
The victims were seized after heavily armed gunmen stormed the community, attacking a secondary school and abducting 46 pupils, several teachers and the school principal. The incident drew condemnation from Nigerians and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools.
The ordeal took a devastating turn a few days after the kidnapping when one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers, further heightening public outrage over the attack.
Although the Presidency has confirmed that all the remaining abducted pupils and teachers have been rescued, details surrounding the operation, including how the victims were freed and their current condition, have not yet been disclosed.
The Presidency indicated that more information about the rescue operation and the victims’ release will be made public in due course.
Security agencies are yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the circumstances surrounding the successful rescue.