The Nigerian Army has released details of the operation that led to the rescue of the abducted Oyo students and teachers from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Army, the captives were liberated following an intelligence-driven operation that targeted the kidnappers’ network and hideouts across the Old Oyo National Park and other areas of the country for nearly a month.
The operation involved Nigerian Army troops under the command of Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, according to a statement released on Friday by Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 2 Division Army Public Relations.
The military collaborated with the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes, hunters, and members of other security organizations. According to the Army, a total of 44 kidnapped students and teachers were freed.
The statement clarified that the operation’s primary objectives were to track down the terrorist masterminds behind the abduction, disrupt their supply chains, and apprehend their informants.
The Army noted that the arrest of multiple suspects across Oyo and other states severely disrupted the group’s logistics network, forcing the terrorists to abandon and release the hostages.
The military further stated that the operation was meticulously executed to guarantee the safe rescue of the victims without sustaining any casualties or causing collateral damage.
‘Bring out CCTV of kidnappers’ – Aisha Yesufu challenges Nigerian Govt.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, human rights activist and politician Aisha Yesufu has challenged the authorities to release the CCTV footage of the individuals responsible for abducting the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers.
Yesufu threw the challenge early on Saturday in a tweet shared on her verified X handle.
The activist made the remarks in response to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who had demanded that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), apologize to airport authorities and pay a fine of N25 million.
Keyamo claimed that Obi had violated airport parking rules at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Responding, Yesufu said, “Pathetic cowards! Let them bring out the CCTV of the kidnappers that took away children in Oyo or of the ones that have been terrorising citizens.
“Majoring in the minor is all they are freaking good at.”
Backstory…
Presidential spokesperson and Special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday disclosed that the abducted Oyo students had finally regained freedom following military operation.
Onanuga, on his verified X handle, announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.
Although the Nigerian Army said troops rescued 44 victims, earlier government reports stated that kidnappers abducted 46 people, comprising 39 students and seven teachers. It remains unclear whether the Army’s figure includes the two teachers who were killed.
Recall that the abduction incident happened on the 15 of May and the victims spent nearly sixty days in captivity.
Read Also: Oyo Kidnap Victims Finally Regain Freedom
‘Worthy of thanksgiving’ – Peter Obi reacts
Also reacting to the development, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, says the rescue of the abducted Oyo students is worthy of thanksgiving.
Obi shared these sentiments on Saturday in a post on his verified X handle. He expressed how greatly relieved and delighted he is to learn that the abducted youngsters and teachers have been safely rescued.
His statement reads in part, “This is worthy of thanksgiving. I sincerely thank all those whose tireless efforts made their freedom possible, especially the security personnel and everyone who worked behind the scenes.
“While we celebrate this happy outcome, we must remember that no child should ever have to endure such trauma.
