All schoolchildren and teachers abducted during the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom, bringing an end to nearly two months of uncertainty for the victims and their families.
The victims were kidnapped when heavily armed gunmen invaded the community and attacked a secondary school, abducting dozens of pupils, teachers and the school principal in an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in schools.
The abduction took a tragic turn days later when one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by his captors, heightening fears over the safety of the remaining hostages.
The release of the victims was confirmed on Friday, although authorities had yet to disclose details of the operation that led to their freedom or whether any arrests were made in connection with the abduction.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga also confirmed the development in a post on his verified X handle, where he shared a video showing one of the released teachers expressing gratitude to the Federal Government and security agencies for securing their freedom and reuniting them with their families.
In the video, the teacher thanked the government for its intervention and described the victims’ return as a moment of relief after weeks in captivity.
The successful release of the abductees marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to secure the freedom of victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country.
The May 15 attack had drawn widespread condemnation from education stakeholders, civil society groups and political leaders, who called for intensified security measures to protect schools and rural communities from criminal attacks.
While details surrounding the rescue remain sketchy, the development is expected to bring relief to affected families and residents of Ahoro-Esiele community, who have endured weeks of anxiety since the abduction.
Security agencies are yet to issue a detailed statement on the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release as of the time of filing this report.
