President Bola Tinubu on Friday declared that no ransom was paid and no concession was made to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by suspected Ansaru terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the successful rescue demonstrated the determination of Nigeria’s security agencies to combat terrorism and kidnapping.
The President made the declaration in a post on his verified X handle shortly after security forces rescued the victims, who had spent 56 days in captivity following their abduction in May.
Describing the rescue as a moment of national thanksgiving, Tinubu praised the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force for carrying out the operation that brought the victims home safely.
“Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks,” the President wrote.
“The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made.”
The President’s statement came after weeks of anxiety over the fate of the victims, whose abduction shocked the country and renewed concerns about attacks on schools.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men attacked schools in Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The gunmen invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School during school hours, abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers before fleeing into nearby forests.
The attack sent panic through the affected communities and prompted a large-scale security operation involving multiple agencies.
Sadly, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed while in captivity.
His death sparked widespread anger across the country and increased pressure on security agencies to rescue the remaining captives.
According to information released after the rescue, the kidnappers were linked to the Ansaru terrorist group, an extremist faction known to have operated in parts of northern Nigeria and believed to have ties with international terrorist networks.
During negotiations, the terrorists reportedly demanded the release of two senior Ansaru commanders who had earlier been arrested by the DSS.
The two suspects were identified as Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, who is also known as Abubakar Abba or Isah Adam.
Their demand became public after one of the abducted teachers appeared in a viral video while in captivity, confirming that the kidnappers wanted the Federal Government to release the detained terrorist commanders.
However, the Federal Government rejected the demand and maintained that it would not negotiate with the terrorists by releasing suspects facing prosecution.
The President reiterated that position on Friday, insisting that no concession was granted to secure the freedom of the victims.
He also used the opportunity to commend members of the armed forces and security agencies who participated in the operation.
“I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible,” Tinubu said.
He described the successful operation as evidence of the commitment and capability of Nigeria’s security forces despite the country’s security challenges.
The President also sent a strong warning to terrorists and criminal groups operating across the country.
“To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country,” he stated.
Earlier on Friday, the Presidency announced that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been rescued during a coordinated operation involving the military, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the operation combined military action, intelligence gathering and police coordination to secure the victims’ release.
According to the statement, the operation also resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, while several others were neutralised during exchanges with security operatives.
The Presidency said further details of the operation would be provided by the security agencies.
Tinubu also commended the Oyo State Government for working closely with federal security agencies throughout the rescue effort.
He noted that cooperation between both levels of government contributed significantly to the success of the operation.
The President directed relevant emergency and humanitarian agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide immediate medical attention, counselling and other forms of support for the rescued pupils and teachers.
Tinubu further assured Nigerians that justice would be pursued for all those affected by the incident, particularly the family of the slain teacher.
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” he said.
The rescue has brought relief to families who spent nearly two months waiting anxiously for news about their loved ones.
Parents, teachers and residents of the affected communities had repeatedly appealed to the government to intensify rescue efforts, while many schools in the area operated under heightened security following the attack.
School abductions have remained one of Nigeria’s major security concerns in recent years, especially in parts of the North-West and North-Central. Although such attacks have been less common in the South-West, the Oriire incident highlighted the growing reach of armed criminal and terrorist groups into new areas.
The Federal Government has continued to strengthen joint operations involving the military, police, DSS and other security agencies to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and violent crimes across the country. Authorities have also maintained that they will not encourage criminal groups by paying ransom or releasing detained suspects in exchange for hostages.
The successful rescue of the Oyo pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity is expected to boost public confidence in ongoing security operations. However, analysts say the incident also underlines the urgent need to strengthen security around schools, improve intelligence gathering and ensure that those responsible for attacks on educational institutions are arrested and prosecuted.
For the rescued pupils and teachers, the operation marks the end of a traumatic ordeal. For the family of Michael Oyedokun, however, the pain of losing a loved one remains, even as the government has pledged that those behind the crime will face justice.