More than 40 kidnapped children and teachers have been rescued after a month‑long military operation in Oyo state, Nigeria.
Gunmen launched a coordinated assault on 15 May, taking 44 pupils and teachers from three schools in the Osiire district—Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School and Community Grammar School. The abductions shocked a predominantly Christian region that has seen fewer such attacks compared with the north.
Major Danjuma Jonah Danjuma announced that the army, police, intelligence services and local vigilante groups chased the kidnappers, dismantled their support network and landed the victims near the Old Oyo National Park forest. While the operation saved the captives, it also claimed the lives of several Nigerian soldiers, the army said.
"The freed captives are currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed facility and will return home at a later date," the spokesman added. Families, however, still await reunification with their loved ones after months of uncertainty.
Local teacher‑union leader Hassan Ajibola expressed "happiness and elation" at the release and insisted that the Safe School Initiative—launched after the Chibok kidnappings—must be fully implemented. He called for deploying guard posts, CCTV, fencing and local security support to protect schools.
The incident has intensified calls from lawmakers and rights groups to investigate how the initiative’s funding has been used, pointing to ongoing gaps in school security that the government has not adequately addressed.
More than 40 rescuers were recovered. The Oyo state abductions caused widespread concern; the Nigerian army said it would launch further operations to address such threats.
