- *’There Were Casualties On The Part Of Security Forces’
THE Nigerian Army has disclosed that a month-long intelligence operation with several security agencies led to the rescue of 44 students and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State in May this year.
The victims, who spent 56 days in the abductors captivity, were rescued on Friday, July 10, with eight of the kidnappers reportedly arrested and in custody.
The military said the operation focused on the group’s leaders, supply routes, informants and hideouts in Old Oyo National Park and other parts of the country.
According to the Acting Deputy Director of 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, who shared details of the operation in a statement shortly after the victims were freed, the troops were led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife.
Danjuma stated that the troops worked with special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Defence Headquarters, and personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Air Force and Police, while operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes and hunters also took part in the operation.
He stated: “Following an intelligence-led, carefully planned and executed operation on 10 July 2026, troops of the Nigerian Army, led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj-Gen, C.R. Nnebeife, in collaboration with special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser, specifically the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Defence Headquarters with Special Forces elements from the Nigerian Army, Navy, the Air Force and the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies, as well as local vigilantes, hunters and Amotekun, in a well-coordinated operation rescued a total of 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped by terrorists from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May 2026.
“The operations, which lasted for more than a month, focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins that masterminded the kidnapping, busting and dismantling their networks and logistics links, including their informants and hideouts located within the Old Oyo National Park Forest, Oyo State.”
Danjuma said several suspects were arrested in Oyo State and other parts of the country during the operation, thereby weakening the group, disrupting its operations and “completely disorganised the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers.
“Further operations are to be conducted.”
Danjuma disclosed that the operation was planned to ensure that the abducted victims were rescued safely and to avoid harm to civilians, adding, however, that “there were some casualties on the part of the security forces.”
The rescued pupils and teachers were first taken to an undisclosed medical facility for examination and treatment and would be handed over to the Oyo State Government after receiving the necessary medical attention, ahead of their reunion with their families.
Nnebeife, on behalf of the agencies involved in the operation, thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as strategic guidance and support; as well as Governor Seyi Makinde; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.); Chief of Defence Staff; Chief of Army Staff; other service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; Directors General of the DSS and NIA; and the heads of other participating agencies.
The Army also thanked media organisations and the public for their cooperation, urging Nigerians to continue supplying timely and credible information to security agencies, even as it assured of sustained intelligence-led operations and dismantling of a terrorist networks across the country.
