President Bola Tinubu has hailed the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
He commended security agencies for ending their 56-day ordeal without casualties.
Tinubu, in a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, praised the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police for securing the victims’ freedom, arresting eight suspected abductors and neutralizing other members of the gang.
He also expressed sympathy to the rescued children, their teachers, their families and the nation over the trauma caused by the abduction, describing the incident as a painful experience.
Tinubu said the operation brought relief to the affected families and the country, while pledging that those responsible for the crime would face justice.
The statement reads, “I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them.
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular.
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.”
The President also commended the Oyo State Government for collaborating with the Federal Government throughout the rescue operation and urged the state to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar incidents.
“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” Tinubu said.
He further directed emergency response agencies to work with the State Government to provide the rescued pupils and teachers with necessary medical care and other relief support.
The victims, comprising 49 teachers, schoolchildren and a toddler, were abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esinle, in Oriire Local Government Area, by suspected bandits on May 15, 2026.
(The Whistler)
