The Nigerian pupils, teachers and other victims abducted during the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria regained their freedom on Friday.
According to local media reports, all the remaining victims had been rescued, bringing to an end nearly two months of captivity.
The victims were abducted when heavily armed gunmen stormed Ahoro-Esiele Community on May 15.
The attackers invaded a secondary school in the community and kidnapped 46 pupils, teachers and the school principal, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in Nigerian schools.
The abduction drew condemnation from the Oyo State Government, civil society organisations, religious leaders and education stakeholders, who called for the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
The incident took a tragic turn days into the captivity when one of the abducted teachers, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers.
His killing heightened public anxiety and intensified calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and rural communities.
Security agencies subsequently launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations across parts of Oyo State and neighbouring areas in an effort to secure the release of the captives.
With the rescue of the remaining victims, attention is expected to shift to their medical evaluation, psychological support and reintegration.
The authorities are also expected to provide further details on the operation and measures being taken to prevent similar attacks on schools.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound joy at the successful rescue of the children and teachers from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, by the security forces.
According to the statement by the Presidency, the Nigerian Leader praised the heroic efforts of the security agencies, especially the military, the DSS and the police, for working round the clock in the last 56 days to secure the release of the abducted children and their teachers without any collateral damage and for arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.
President Tinubu regretted the anguish that the children and their teachers, as well as members of their families and the entire nation, have experienced since the sad occurrence.
For cooperating with the Federal Government in all rescue efforts, President Tinubu commended the Oyo State Government and charged it to ensure adequate security around schools across the state.
“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.
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr. Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.
“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu has also directed that the emergency agencies work with the Oyo State Government to provide all necessary medical and relief support to the children and the teachers.
GIK/APA