Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced the development on Friday via his official X account, stating that the victims had been successfully rescued after spending weeks in captivity.

The mass abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men riding motorcycles and dressed in military camouflage stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The attackers invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele, firing gunshots to create panic before whisking away dozens of pupils and teachers.

Among those kidnapped were children as young as two years old, alongside at least seven teachers, in one of the most shocking school abductions recorded in Nigeria’s southwest region.

The assailants reportedly marched their captives into the forests surrounding Old Oyo National Park, an area increasingly associated with the activities of armed criminal groups. The incident triggered widespread fear across affected communities, forcing schools to close indefinitely as worried parents withdrew their children from classrooms.

The abduction sparked national outrage, with civil society organizations, activists, celebrities, and concerned citizens demanding urgent intervention from authorities. The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) also declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State, insisting on stronger security measures to protect schools and educational workers.

In response, a joint security operation involving the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, police personnel, and local hunters was launched. Security operatives reportedly engaged the kidnappers in a series of confrontations as efforts intensified to secure the safe return of the victims.

The successful rescue marks the end of a traumatic ordeal that gripped Oyo State and drew attention to the persistent threat of school abductions in parts of the country. Families, community leaders, and education stakeholders have welcomed the development, while calls continue for improved security around schools to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Presidency has yet to release full details of the rescue operation, but the announcement has brought relief to families and communities who endured weeks of uncertainty following the abduction.