Some interesting details, last night, emerged on a few of the intrigues that went into the eventual release of the kidnapped Oyo State students and their teachers, who spent some 57 days in their kidnappers’ den.
In what has turned out a major boost to president Bola Tinubu’s anti-terrorism war, security agencies, hinted that they rejected an offer by terrorists to exchange their wives and children for the 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers, opting instead for a military assault that culminated in the successful rescue of the victims.
Besides, the decision to invade the forest where the captives were being kept was influenced by lessons learnt from the death in captivity of retired Gen. Abubakar Rabbe, after prolonged negotiations, security sources said.
The hostages, who were abducted on May 15, 2026, from Ahoro Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, regained their freedom on July 10 during a coordinated operation involving the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Olugbade Oyedokun, was however killed while in captivity.
Security sources explained that the breakthrough followed weeks of painstaking intelligence gathering during, which DSS operatives tracked and arrested several wives and children of the kidnappers in different communities and cities across the country.
According to the sources, the operation was personally coordinated by a senior DSS official after security forces had sealed off the terrorists’ escape routes and effectively surrounded their hideout inside the National Park forest.
The arrested family members were subsequently moved to Abuja, where the women were interrogated in accordance with investigative procedures.
The sources disclosed that recordings of the interrogations somehow found their way to the kidnappers, unsettling the terrorists and dramatically changing the tone of negotiations.
“The kidnappers suddenly became more responsive. They abandoned their earlier hardline position and started making frequent contact instead of disappearing after making demands,” one of the sources said.
According to the sources, the terrorists subsequently proposed releasing the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in exchange for the release of their wives and guarantees of safe passage.
The proposal was immediately rejected by security agencies, it was learnt.
Instead, the kidnappers were informed that the victims must first be released unconditionally, while they would either surrender peacefully or face arrest or possible elimination during military operations.
Investigators believed the arrest of the terrorists’ family members significantly reduced the likelihood that the abductors would harm the hostages, fearing possible consequences for their own relatives.
The sources said the strategy was also consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that Nigeria should neither pay ransom nor negotiate with terrorists.
Before softening their position, the kidnappers had demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia related laws as conditions for freeing the victims.
Specifically, they sought the release of Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al Nigeri.
Both men were identified by security agencies as leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), the Al Qaeda linked breakaway faction of Boko Haram, and were arrested by DSS operatives last year.
Even while contacts with the terrorists continued, security forces steadily tightened the noose around the hideout.
A source familiar with the operation disclosed that the final order to storm the camp was issued on Thursday night after fresh intelligence confirmed that the abducted schoolchildren and teachers were no longer being used as human shields.
The source said the assault was swift, carefully coordinated and backed by overwhelming firepower, catching the terrorists completely off guard.
Security sources added that in the weeks leading to the operation, troops had repeatedly engaged the terrorists in gun battles designed to weaken their fighting capability and exhaust their ammunition.
“When the final operation commenced, the resistance was significantly lower than anticipated because they had already been weakened,” another source said.
The operation resulted in the killing of scores of terrorists, while eight suspected kidnappers were arrested. Although members of the rescue team suffered casualties, all the surviving schoolchildren and teachers were rescued safely.
The sources said the decision to end negotiations and launch the final assault was heavily influenced by the experience from the abduction of retired General Abubakar Rabbe in Katsina State.
According to them, the DSS had earlier recommended a military operation against the kidnappers holding the retired general and his wife after concluding that it offered the best opportunity for their rescue.
However, the recommendation was not adopted because authorities believed negotiations could secure their release. Rabbe later died in captivity after reportedly developing a medical condition.
Security officials said the outcome strengthened the conviction among security agencies that prolonged negotiations with heavily armed terrorist groups could increase the risks to hostages, whereas carefully planned intelligence-driven rescue operations often offered better prospects for success.
With the successful rescue of the Oriire victims and the arrest of several suspects, investigations are continuing.
Security sources said children of the suspects who committed no offence would be released, while any of the wives found to have actively participated in the kidnappings or other terrorist activities would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The sources added that the operation underscored the increasing reliance of Nigerian security agencies on intelligence led counterterrorism operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks rather than merely responding to attacks after they occur.
Details of How Arrests of Terrorists’ Families, Death of Syndicate Forced Rescue
The eventual and safe release of children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State was achieved through sustained military pressure that combined intelligence-led operations, logistics denial, the dismantling of terrorist support networks and coordinated inter-agency action, THISDAY has learnt.
A source privy to the operations, who spoke to THISDAY on strict condition of anonymity, disclosed that the mission lasted more than six weeks from planning to execution and saw the death of eight terrorists as well as arrests of 42 members of their families.
Involved in the operation were the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service (SBS), Defence Headquarters, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Joint Interagency Task Force and military formations already operating in the area.
According to the source, the deployment of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and critical intelligence provided by ONSA proved to be the turning point in the operation.
“The Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service was a critical enabler of the operation. In addition, the intelligence provided by ONSA was vital. Both became the game changers when they came into the operation,” the source said.
The source explained that before troops were deployed, security agencies spent about two weeks conducting Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), mapping the forest and attempting to establish the terrorists’ exact location.
However, the terrorists deliberately selected one of the deepest and thickest sections of Oyo National Forest, where the dense tree canopy prevented Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, including aircraft, drones and thermal imaging systems, from detecting their hideout.
“The canopy was so thick that if you were there during the day, you would think it was night. They also kept the children inside a cave,” the source disclosed.
The breakthrough came after intelligence operatives realised the terrorists had to leave their hideout at intervals to access satellite communication signals because the forest canopy blocked effective connectivity.
Security agencies began intercepting those communications and identified the elevated locations used by the terrorists, which subsequently became key operational targets.
The operation involved troops advancing from different directions while relying on signals intelligence, aerial surveillance and local intelligence provided by hunters and other persons familiar with the terrain.
According to the source, the difficult terrain meant soldiers sometimes trekked more than 20 kilometres daily because vehicles could not operate inside the virgin forest.
As troops advanced, they occupied communication points used by the terrorists while aerial bombardments gradually restricted the group’s movement.
The source said authorities also cut off the terrorists’ logistics by imposing curfews on surrounding communities and closing markets, disrupting food supplies and support reaching the group.
Intercepted communications further enabled security agencies to identify relatives, associates and collaborators linked to the terrorists across neighbouring communities as well as Adamawa, Sokoto and Niger States.
“We systematically arrested associates and members of their support network,” the source said.
The source added that security forces also intercepted nearly 300 cattle allegedly belonging to a supporter transporting them from Niger State towards the forest, saying intelligence indicated the livestock owner was assisting the terrorists.
Authorities also identified houses linked to members of the network, shutting some and demolishing others as part of efforts to dismantle the group’s support structure.
Contrary to speculation that ransom was paid, the source insisted that Ansaru never demanded money for the hostages.
“Ansaru never asked for ransom. They are an ideologically driven group. Their only demand was the release of their leader,” the source said.
Although intelligence eventually identified the probable location where the children were being held, the source said military commanders decided against a direct assault because of the risks to the hostages.
Instead, security forces sustained military, financial and psychological pressure until the terrorists’ support structure weakened and several of their fighters were killed or fled the forest.
As pressure mounted, the source said the terrorists eventually initiated contact with security agencies and agreed to release the hostages.
The children and their teachers were later abandoned at Esiele, where security forces safely recovered them.
The source said the operation’s deliberate pace reflected the military’s determination to prioritise the safety of the hostages, noting that every stage of the mission was planned to minimise the risk of casualties among the children and their teachers.
Meanwhile, Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to hail the federal government and the security agencies for a job well done in the eventual release of the abductees.
Sanwo-Olu: Rescue if Proof of Tinubu’s Commitment to Insecurity, Protecting Lives
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, saying it was proof of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to tackling insecurity and protecting Nigerian lives.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu expressed relief and joy over the development.
The governor praised the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies that worked to secure the release of the victims.
He also extended solidarity to his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, and the people of Ogbomoso, saying the successful operation has restored hope not just to the affected families, but to residents across the Southwest and the nation at large.
“The rescue is a big relief and shows the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the war against insecurity. I commend the tireless efforts and resilience of our gallant security operatives who made this possible. I equally rejoice with the people of Oyo State, particularly the residents of Ogbomoso on this great news,” he said.
Adeleke: It’s Cheering News for Nigeria
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing their unconditional release as cheering news for the nation.
Adeleke also praised the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for the professionalism, resilience and coordination that culminated in the safe release of the victims after weeks of painstaking operations.
In a statement by his Spokesperson, Adeleke said the development underscored the importance of sustained synergy among the nation’s security institutions in confronting terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
“I congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and my brother Governor Seyi Makinde on the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State. Their safe return is a great relief to their families and indeed to all Nigerians.
“I also commend the Nigerian Army, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies whose coordinated efforts made this success possible.”
The governor particularly applauded the security forces for conducting the operation with professionalism and restraint, ensuring the victims were safely released while dismantling the criminal network responsible for the abduction.
He also paid tribute to security personnel who made sacrifices in the course of the operation, praying for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and speedy recovery for those injured.
Ooni: It’s Demonstration of FG’s Devotion
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has commended President Bola Tinubu, the Oyo State Government and Nigeria’s security agencies for the rescue of the schoolchildren and teachers, saying it was a demonstration of their commitment of security of life and property.
According to a statement, weekend, by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, Ooni described the safe return of the victims as a significant relief to their families and a demonstration of the commitment of the federal government and security agencies towards protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Ooni praised the professionalism, bravery and dedication displayed by the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies involved in the rescue operation.
He also commended President Tinubu for providing the needed leadership and support that facilitated the successful operation, while appreciating the Oyo State Government, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring the safe return of the victims.
He congratulated the parents, guardians and loved ones of the rescued pupils and teachers, noting that their reunion marked the end of a painful period of anxiety, prayers and uncertainty.
“The successful rescue of the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers is a welcome development and a testament to what can be achieved when government institutions, security agencies and communities work together towards a common goal.
“I commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Oyo State Government and our gallant security personnel for their commitment and determination in ensuring that these innocent children and their teachers return safely to their families.
“The courage and professionalism demonstrated by our security agencies during this operation deserve commendation. Their efforts have restored hope and reaffirmed the importance of collective responsibility in addressing the security challenges facing our nation,” Ooni said.
Alausa: It’s Moment of Great Relief
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has applauded President Bola Tinubu for the safe rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, saying it was a moment of great relief for the nation.
(FROM: THISDAY)
