Nigeria Army Rescues 44 Kidnapped Children and Teachers in Oyo Operation

Kidnapped pupils and teachers freed

The Nigerian army confirmed that 44 pupils and teachers abducted on 15 May from schools in Oyo state have been freed after a month‑long rescue operation involving troops, police, intelligence agencies and local vigilante groups.

This operation, conducted over an intensive month, resulted in the deaths of several soldiers and the arrest of multiple suspects whose hideouts were discovered in the Old Oyo National Park forest.

Army spokesman Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said the rescued victims are receiving medical care at an undisclosed hospital and will return home later. He also stated that additional operations are planned to crush any remaining kidnapping syndicates.

Local teachers’ unions and families expressed relief, though many still await reunion. Prof Wole Alamu, headteacher of Community Grammar School, said: “It was a harrowing experience… we thank God that it ended well.”

Hassan Ajibola, head of the Teachers’ Union in Oyo, called for full implementation of the Safe School Initiative, urging measures such as school security teams, CCTV, fencing and regular patrols.

The abductions shocked Nigerian citizens due to their scale and the fact they occurred in the Christian south‑west, a region usually spared such attacks. “We need stronger safeguards,” Ajibola emphasised.

In the longer term, lawmakers and rights groups are demanding an inquiry into how Safe School funds were used, amid continuing kidnappings that threaten the upcoming general elections.

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