Eight terrorists were arrested during a security operation that secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after about eight weeks in captivity.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on Friday in a post on his X account, confirming that all the victims had been rescued.
According to Onanuga, the operation was carried out without yielding to the kidnappers’ demand for the release of one of their kingpins.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo, have been rescued by our security agencies.
“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, whose release the kidnappers demanded, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give a full account soon,” he wrote.
The pupils and teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area on May 15, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in schools.
Onanuga said the Department of State Services (DSS) currently has the eight arrested terrorists in custody, while security agencies are expected to provide a full account of the rescue operation.
