The Presidency has disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation that secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several other members of the kidnapping gang were neutralised during the rescue operation.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed the details in a follow-up post on his verified X account on Friday, shortly after announcing the successful rescue of the victims.
According to Onanuga, the Federal Government did not make any concessions or negotiate with the kidnappers to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Report say the Presidency also dismissed claims that the government released a detained terrorist leader in exchange for the victims’ freedom.
Onanuga explained that the alleged kingpin whose release had been demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is currently facing prosecution for terrorism-related offences.
“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 wrote.
He added that security agencies would provide a comprehensive briefing on the operation in due course.
Breezy News gathered that the rescued pupils and teachers had spent several weeks in captivity after heavily armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on 15 May.
The attack claimed the life of one teacher, while another was later beheaded by the kidnappers in a development that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for stronger action against criminal gangs operating across the country.
