Monday, July 20, 2026

Tinubu lauds rescue of Oyo pupils, teachers; vows justice for victims

Mr Tinubu vowed to get justice for the victims, including the mathematics teacher, murdered while in captivity.

• July 10, 2026
President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has expressed joy over the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo in May.

The victims were successfully rescued on Friday after spending nearly two months in terrorists’ captivity.

Mr Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, commended the security agencies, especially the military, the SSS, and the police, for securing the release of the victims and arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.

The president stated, “I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso, in Oyo State today after a military, police, and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them.

“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular. On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies, and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers.”

Mr Tinubu also commended the Oyo government for working cooperatively with the federal government to rescue the victims.

Expressing regret over the anguish experienced by the victims, their family members, and Nigerians, Mr Tinubu vowed to get justice for the victims, including the mathematics teacher, murdered while in captivity.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, whom the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” he added.

The president directed the emergency agencies to work with the Oyo government in providing all necessary medical and relief support to the rescued victims.

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