The Presidency has disclosed that eight kidnappers involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several others were killed during the rescue operation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the disclosure in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Friday, providing further details on the successful rescue of the victims.
According to Onanuga, the operation was carried out without yielding to the demands of the kidnappers, stressing that the Federal Government did not negotiate or exchange any concession for the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
He revealed that one of the major demands made by the kidnappers was the release of their kingpin, but the government refused, insisting that the suspect remains in custody and is currently facing prosecution for terrorism-related offences.
“Updated: In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised,” Onanuga stated.
He added, “There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, whose release the kidnappers demanded, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give a full account soon.”
The Presidency noted that security agencies would provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation in due course.
The abducted pupils and teachers had spent several weeks in captivity after armed men attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government on May 15. During the attack, a teacher was killed, while another was later beheaded by the kidnappers in a gruesome video that drew widespread condemnation across the country.
