The 44 pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 were released on Friday after security forces cornered the terrorists and forced them to abandon their hostages.
The kidnappers, identified as members of the Ansaru sect, had been subjected to intense pressure from a combined team of the Nigerian Army, Navy Special Forces, Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Air Forces’ fighter jets, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Left with no escape route, the terrorists requested safe passage in exchange for releasing the captives unharmed, a report by The Nation newspaper confirmed.
“The terrorists knew they had been cornered. They knew their identities had been uncovered, their relatives held. So, they had nothing to fear or lose anymore,” a source familiar with the operation told the newspaper.
The report detailed that the terrorists had long made the Old Oyo National Forest their territory, using it as a base to launch attacks and plan jailbreaks for their members held in Borgu correctional facility since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. However, security forces advanced from multiple directions, encircling them in layers across all entry and exit points of the forest.
The terrorists initially demanded the release of arrested Ansaru leaders, a huge ransom, and other unrealistic conditions. But as pressure mounted, they dropped these demands and instead held onto the pupils as human shields, insisting the only way the hostages would return unharmed was for the terrorists to be given a safe corridor out of the forest.
“Their only bargaining chip left was the hostages they used as human shields,” the source said. “For us to get the victims out alive and unhurt, it was only practical to allow them a safe corridor to run.”
The joint security forces, with clearance from the Presidency, reportedly obliged the terrorists, who then abandoned the captives and fled into Borgu through a path opened in the northern part of Kwara State.
The report also disclosed that prior to the deal, special forces had eliminated eight Ansaru terrorists in an exchange of gunfire. These eight, it was gathered, had been planted by terror kingpins to provide intelligence on troop movements.
“During the operation, we killed eight Ansaru terrorists. They died during troops’ advancement,” the source said. “It was the information they were providing that led to the death of Lieutenant Felix Adame Isaac.”
Several other terrorists were arrested and handed over to the DSS and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The police and DSS also arrested some of the terrorists’ relatives, mothers, wives, and siblings, across different parts of the country, recording videos that were sent to the kidnappers to force their hand.
“Some of their mothers, wives and siblings were picked up, recorded and the videos sent to them,” the source added. “They just knew they were cornered all round and they had to use the hostages as means of escape.”
The report stressed that the ultimate goal of the government was the safe return of the hostages, and it would have been counter-productive to set a trap for the terrorists within the safe corridor since the abductees were yet to be reached.
When asked why the security forces did not eliminate the terrorists before they escaped, the source explained: “I understand your point. But it would have been dangerous for the children and teachers. The focus was to ensure their safe return.”
The source also dismissed claims that any of the pupils died in captivity, saying they all returned unhurt and were offered psychosocial therapy.
“None of the children died. They were all released unhurt,” the source said. “We were careful to avoid any harm befalling any of the children, and that is why the operation lasted this long. We knew the location of the terrorists from the outset and encircled them, but could not go offensive because of the captives, most of whom were children.”
Lieutenant Isaac, according to the report, died in an ambush by the terrorists during the early weeks of the rescue mission.
In a statement by the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division spokesman, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the military confirmed that the operation, led by General Officer Commander Maj. Gen. Ralph Nnebeife, focused on identifying terrorist kingpins, dismantling their networks, and exerting overwhelming pressure on the group.
“These arrests completely disorganised the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers,” the statement said.
The army confirmed that 44 pupils and teachers were rescued, acknowledging the contributions of the ONSA, Defence Headquarters, Navy, NAF, police, DSS, NIA, NSCDC, local vigilantes, hunters, and the Amotekun corps.
The GOC 2 Division thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for “strategic guidance, support and for all the provisions that made the operation a huge success,” as well as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state for their support.
“We sincerely thank the various media houses and indeed the entire Nigeria populace for their support, understanding and for having faith in the security architecture of the nation,” the army added.
The report further noted that while relatives of the rescued victims celebrated, the family of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, the teacher beheaded by the kidnappers, mourned. His niece, Oluwabukolami, wrote on Instagram: “They are finally home. My heart rejoices with every family that has been reunited with their loved ones after weeks of pain, fear and uncertainty. Welcome home.”
Meanwhile, the report stated that the military has not demobilised its base in Oriire, with surveillance continuing until the area is fully secured. Governor Makinde has also visited the victims at the 2 Division Nigerian Army Hospital, where they are receiving medical and psychosocial care, and has promised to reunite them with their families today.
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