How troops rescued abducted Oyo pupils after 56 days — GOC

By Lawrence Agbo

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, has revealed that the successful rescue of pupils, teachers and the principal kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State followed a painstaking 56-day intelligence-led operation involving several security agencies.

Addressing journalists during the handover of the rescued victims to the Oyo State Government, the Army commander said troops swung into action immediately after the abduction on May 15, 2026. However, by the time soldiers arrived at the scene, the kidnappers had already vanished into the vast forest.

“On 15th May 2026, at about 10:00 a.m., we were conducting an event in the barracks when information got to us. We immediately mobilised troops from nearby locations, and my team moved from the barracks at top speed, but unfortunately, the terrorists had already gone deep into the forest,” he said.

Nnebeife explained that surveillance efforts involving drones, the Nigerian Air Force, local hunters and vigilantes failed to locate the captives because of the difficult terrain.

“There are places in that forest where even the rays of sunlight cannot penetrate. The drones flew, the Air Force carried out surveillance, but nothing was visible. We had to rely on ground operations,” he said.

He disclosed that the rescue mission came at a high cost, with one officer and one soldier losing their lives while several others sustained injuries during repeated operations inside the forest.

“It was during one of those operations that we lost an officer and a soldier. Some others were wounded, including one who suffered a serious gunshot injury that left him with a broken arm.”

According to him, the rescue effort later transformed into a nationwide security operation involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Defence Headquarters Special Forces, the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, the Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Intelligence Agency, Operation Safe Haven, Amotekun Corps and local vigilantes.

Rather than negotiate with the abductors, the military chose to target the criminal network behind the kidnapping.

“We will never yield to terrorists’ demands. That is not an option,” the GOC declared.

He said intelligence gathering enabled security agencies to identify the gang’s leaders, arrest several suspects and collaborators, and cripple the group’s logistics network.

The turning point, he noted, came when security operatives blocked the kidnappers’ major supply route, leaving them with no option but to release the victims without any conditions.

“The operation focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins, dismantling their network and cutting off their logistics. When we blocked their major logistics hub, they were eventually willing to release them unconditionally.”

Despite the successful rescue, Nnebeife insisted that operations against the criminal syndicate would continue until those responsible were completely dismantled.

“We told them it was not just about releasing the victims. We must see to the end of the terrorists operating in that region and indeed across the country.”

He confirmed that the victims regained their freedom on July 10, but sadly disclosed that two teachers died while in captivity.

The Army commander paid tribute to the slain personnel, noting that the rescued victims were recovered on the same day the fallen officer was laid to rest.

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic support throughout the operation, saying the President received daily briefings on the mission.

Nnebeife further praised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for remaining actively engaged throughout the rescue process, dismissing reports suggesting the governor failed to support the operation.

He acknowledged the contributions of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS, the National Intelligence Agency, Oyo State Police Command, medical teams and local security volunteers.

The GOC disclosed that information obtained from suspects arrested by the police proved crucial in tracking the kidnappers’ hideouts, with some suspects even flown by helicopter into the forest to assist security forces with intelligence.

He also thanked the media and Nigerians for keeping attention on the abduction, saying public concern helped sustain momentum for the operation.

Calling for stronger collaboration between citizens and security agencies, Nnebeife urged Nigerians to provide credible intelligence while warning that ongoing investigations had uncovered the involvement of some collaborators among local hunters and vigilante groups.