Nigeria rescues 44 schoolchildren and teachers after 56‑day Oyo kidnapping

On 15 May 2026, gunmen abducted about 44 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. The victims were held for 56 days in the forest around Old Oyo National Park. On 10 July 2026 a coordinated intelligence‑led operation rescued the hostages. The operation involved the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, local hunters, Amotekun vigilantes and other security agencies, and was overseen by President Bola Tinubu and Major General C.R. Nnebeife. Several security personnel were killed, including Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac, and some kidnappers were arrested.

Political leaders—including President Tinubu, the APC chairman, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the African Democratic Congress—praised the rescue as a milestone and urged continued action to free other abductees in Borno, Kwara and elsewhere. Families expressed gratitude but also reluctance to return children to the same schools, citing lingering trauma and security concerns. The rescued victims are receiving medical care and will be reunited with their families.

The event highlights Nigeria’s ongoing challenge with school kidnappings, prompting calls for stronger security around schools and broader strategies to address the root causes of insecurity.