The 44 pupils and school staff rescued from kidnappers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been transferred to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital for comprehensive medical treatment and rehabilitation following their 56-day ordeal in captivity.
The victims were formally handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian military during a ceremony held on Monday at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.
The event was attended by top government officials, military commanders, security chiefs and the rescued victims.
Speaking during the handover, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful rescue followed an intensive multi-agency operation involving the military, intelligence agencies and other security organisations.
Nnebeife disclosed that troops swiftly launched a rescue operation after the abduction was reported on May 15, combing the dense forests of the Old Oyo National Park where the victims were believed to have been held.
He explained that the thick vegetation in the area made aerial surveillance ineffective, forcing security operatives to rely on difficult ground operations throughout the rescue mission.
According to the GOC, the military lost an officer and a soldier during the operation but remained resolute, refusing to negotiate with the kidnappers or pay any ransom.
Instead, he said security agencies intensified intelligence-driven operations that disrupted the kidnappers’ logistics and supply network, leading to the arrest of several suspects and collaborators across different states.
He added that cutting off the kidnappers’ major supply base in Ashamu, Oyo State, eventually forced the abductors to release the victims unconditionally.
Nnebeife also revealed that ongoing investigations uncovered the involvement of some local vigilantes and hunters who allegedly collaborated with the kidnappers, assuring that measures would be taken to reform community security structures and prevent future occurrences.
