There was widespread relief on Friday after pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom following 56 days in captivity.

The successful rescue ended weeks of uncertainty for the victims, their families and the affected communities after a prolonged security operation involving multiple agencies.

Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that eight suspects linked to the kidnapping had been arrested and were currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation.

He also revealed that several members of the criminal gang were killed during the operation that led to the victims’ rescue.

Keyamo Releases Evidence, Says Peter Obi Must Pay ₦25,000 Fine For Wrong Parking At Airport

According to Onanuga, security operatives successfully secured the victims’ release without acceding to the kidnappers’ demand for the release of a Boko Haram commander currently facing terrorism charges.

The presidential aide said the operation was carefully executed despite the conditions reportedly imposed by the abductors, describing the mission as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and terrorism.

The rescue followed weeks of coordinated intelligence gathering and security operations aimed at locating the victims and dismantling the criminal network responsible for the abduction.

Reacting to the development, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, welcomed the successful rescue but called on the Federal Government to provide a full explanation regarding the reported killing of one of the abducted teachers.

Falana said Nigerians deserved to know the circumstances surrounding the teacher’s death while in the custody of the kidnappers.

While congratulating the rescued pupils and teachers, he urged the authorities to disclose how the victim was allegedly killed during the period of captivity.

The senior lawyer also called on the government to utilise the ongoing school holiday to reinforce security measures in educational institutions nationwide.

According to him, schools located in rural communities require urgent attention because they remain particularly vulnerable to attacks by armed groups.

Falana stressed that improving security around schools would help prevent future incidents of mass abduction and provide greater protection for students, teachers and other education workers across the country.

The rescue has been widely welcomed as another significant step in the fight against kidnapping, even as calls continue for stronger preventive measures to safeguard schools and rural communities from similar attacks.