The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation that secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, while several other members of the gang were neutralised.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the disclosure in a follow-up post on his verified X account on Friday, shortly after announcing the successful rescue of the victims.
According to Onanuga, the arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
He also dismissed claims that the victims were freed through a prisoner exchange, insisting that no concession was granted to the kidnappers.
Onanuga explained that the terrorist kingpin whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is being prosecuted for offences linked to his alleged terrorist activities.
“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,” he wrote.
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue, as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, whose release was demanded by the kidnappers, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give a full account soon.”
He added that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation and the circumstances surrounding the rescue.
The abducted pupils and teachers had spent weeks in captivity after gunmen attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
During the attack, one teacher was killed, while another, Michael Oyedokun, was later murdered in captivity, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and intensified calls for the victims’ rescue.
