“Oyo Abducted Pupils, Teachers Rescued” — Onanuga Announces Freedom Days After Bandits Threatened To Kill Captives If Troops Advanced

The pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom, days after the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the captives if security forces advanced on their location.

The release was announced on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on his verified X handle.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga wrote.

The victims were abducted on May 15 when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area and took away 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools.

One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed while in captivity.

The abduction sparked outrage across the country, with Nigerians demanding urgent action to secure the release of the schoolchildren and teachers.

Before Friday’s announcement, Musa had said during an interview on News Central television that the kidnappers were using the victims as leverage to demand the release of some of their commanders in military custody.

According to the Defence Minister, the bandits believed that holding the pupils and teachers hostage would force the authorities to release their detained leaders.

“For whatever reason, they are looking for leverage because we have some of their commanders with us and they feel taking these kids and holding them to ransom will make us release their commander,” Musa had said.

He also disclosed that the abductors threatened to kill the children if security forces moved closer to their location.

“And now they’re threatening that when we want to take action against them, if we come any closer, they’re going to kill all the kids,” he had stated.

Musa had also backed the death penalty for bandits and kidnappers, saying weak laws had encouraged criminality and that there must be serious punishment for such offences.

“I think we should do that. There must be deterrence. The laws are soft, and that’s why people take advantage. They should know that once you commit an offence, there must be punishment,” the minister said.

As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding the release of the abducted pupils and teachers, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances that led to their freedom, had not been disclosed.

The rescue brings relief to the families of the victims and residents of the affected communities, who had endured weeks of anxiety following the attack.