A former operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Seyi Adetayo, has revealed details of the intelligence-driven operation that led to the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity without the payment of ransom or the exchange of prisoners.
Adetayo disclosed this during an interview on TVC News on Friday, shortly after security agencies announced the successful rescue of the victims who were kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.
According to him, the operation was built largely on intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated pressure on the kidnappers and their support network.
The former DSS operative said security agencies carefully mapped out the structure of the criminal group and identified individuals closely connected to the abductors.
He explained that investigators traced the kidnappers’ family members and associates as part of efforts to weaken the group’s operations and force them to release the victims.
According to Adetayo, security operatives identified the kidnappers’ mothers, wives, children and other close associates during the operation.
He said some of these individuals were arrested and questioned by security agencies as investigators intensified efforts to locate the victims and dismantle the kidnappers’ network.
“They identified the kidnappers’ mothers, wives, children and close associates. They arrested them, recorded videos and sent them to the abductors,” Adetayo said during the interview.
According to him, the strategy formed part of a broader intelligence operation designed to put pressure on the kidnappers without endangering the lives of the abducted pupils and teachers.
He explained that security forces did not rely solely on military action but also targeted the support systems that allowed the criminal group to operate.
Adetayo said investigators focused on disrupting the kidnappers’ communication channels, supply routes and movement corridors.
He added that operatives worked to cut off access to food, logistics and information while tracking individuals suspected of assisting the gang.
According to him, the operation combined intelligence gathering, negotiations and strategic pressure to secure the release of the victims.
The former security operative maintained that no ransom was paid and no prisoner swap was carried out before the victims regained their freedom.
He said the coordinated efforts eventually forced the abductors into releasing the pupils and teachers after spending nearly two months in captivity.
“The strategy ultimately led to the safe rescue of the pupils and teachers after 56 days in captivity without the payment of ransom or a prisoner exchange,” he stated.
The comments came hours after the Nigerian Army provided details of the rescue operation and confirmed that all the victims had regained their freedom.
According to the Army, the operation was led by troops of the 2 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, DSS, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilante groups.
The Army said the operation lasted for more than a month and focused on identifying the leaders of the kidnapping network, dismantling their logistics structures and locating their hideouts.
Security authorities disclosed that several arrests were made in Oyo State and other parts of the country during the operation.
According to the military, the arrests disrupted the activities of the criminal group and mounted pressure that eventually led to the unconditional release of the victims.
The pupils and teachers were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
The attack caused panic across Oyo State and renewed concerns about the safety of schools and rural communities.
Official reports indicated that dozens of pupils and teachers were taken away by the attackers during the raid.
The incident also resulted in the death of the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, who was reportedly shot while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed while in captivity, a development that deepened public concern and increased pressure on security agencies to secure the release of the remaining victims.
Throughout the period of captivity, families of the abducted pupils and teachers repeatedly appealed to the government and security agencies for help.
Governor Seyi Makinde assured residents that every available resource would be deployed to secure the victims’ freedom.
The successful rescue has been welcomed across Oyo State, with residents praising the efforts of security agencies involved in the operation.
The disclosure by Adetayo has also drawn attention to the increasing role of intelligence gathering in modern security operations.
The rescue of the Oyo pupils and teachers is being seen as one of the most significant security successes recorded in the state in recent years.
As the victims continue to receive medical attention before being reunited with their families, security agencies are expected to continue operations aimed at arresting other members of the kidnapping network and preventing future attacks on schools and communities.