Some of the victims after their release. Photo: Bayo Onanuga
At last, the pupils and teachers who were kidnapped by bandits at Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State about two months ago, have been released.
This development was disclosed in a post on X by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
He wrote: “Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors.”
Speaking after their release, the principal of Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs Alamu Folawe, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security operatives for rescuing them alive.
She said, “Hello sir, our father, we’re grateful. The President sir, we’re grateful. We understand your commitment to our safety and we appreciate all you did for us. We could see in your eyes. Thank you very much. And every security operative, they tried so much.
“And that’s why we are still alive now. We’re very grateful.”
Details surrounding their release were unavailable at the time of writing and posting this report.
It was not clear whether any ransom was paid, whether the victims were voluntarily released by their abductors, or whether they were rescued by security agencies.
The circumstances surrounding their release were not yet disclosed.
Forty six persons including 39 pupils and seven teachers among them a principal, were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
During the attack, a teacher, Mr Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in the kidnappers’ den.
The kidnappers had reportedly made a four-point demand before agreeing to free the captives, including the release of detained terrorists’ commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
Consistently, a visibly sorrowful Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had maintained that no ransom would be paid to secure the release of any victims.
The incident had thrown the whole country into weeks of anguish, during which the Oyo State’s chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, went on a month-long strike to press for the victims’ rescue. The union suspended the strike in July.
Also, visibly concerned that the victims should come back alive, the Federal Government waded in as military and police authorities repeatedly assured Nigerians that operations were being intensified to free the victims alive.
