Fresh details have emerged on the rescue of 44 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, revealing how intelligence operations and a state-imposed curfew contributed to their release after 56 days in captivity.
According to Vanguard, the victims, who were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, were rescued through a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Security sources said operatives avoided a direct assault after locating the captives, opting instead to monitor the kidnappers’ communications. The intelligence gathered reportedly led to the identification of the suspects and their relatives, while sustained pressure on the family members unsettled the abductors.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Governor Seyi Makinde’s 16-hour curfew across 10 local government areas disrupted the kidnappers’ plan to move the captives to Kainji in Niger State.
“The terrorists had planned to move the captives to Kainji in Niger State, but the 16-hour curfew imposed across 10 local government areas frustrated the relocation and created the opportunity for security operatives to secure the victims’ release,” the source said.
