Following the heart-warming news of the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Presidency has confirmed that eight of the kidnappers have been arrested and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services, while some others were neutralised during the operation.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, disclosed this in a follow-up post on his verified X handle on Friday after he announced the victims’ release.
Onanuga said no concession was made to the terrorists to secure the freedom of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Onanuga explained that the kingpin whose release the kidnappers had demanded was neither freed nor spared, as he remains under prosecution for offences linked to his terrorist activities.
He wrote, “Updated: in the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
He added that security agencies would soon provide a comprehensive account of the operation.
The pupils and teachers had spent weeks in captivity after gunmen stormed three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of the local government area on May 15, killing a teacher and later beheading another in a video that sparked national outrage.
