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ABUJA – The Presidency has announced that pupils and teachers abducted from Orire Community School in Oyo State have regained their freedom.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed the information on his X page, formerly Twitter on Friday.
He said, “Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors”.
Recall that on May 15, 2026, armed bandits linked to a Boko Haram faction had abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers during coordinated morning raids on three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities of Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State.
Their abduction elicited widespread condemnation and protest from cross section of Nigerians, especially the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) which vowed never to return to classrooms until the victims are set free.
The victims were said to be held within the expansive 2,500-square-kilometer Old Oyo National Park.
While security forces intensified rescue operations and arrested several suspects and local informants, the victims remain in captivity after multiple weeks.
The abductors later beheaded one of the teachers in an apparent move to send a warning signal to government.
While the rescue efforts persisted, the abductors reportedly demanded for the release of their top commanders in exchange for the freedom of the pupils and teachers.
More details later…