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The Nigerian Army has safely freed 44 students and teachers who were abducted from three schools in Oyo State two months ago. Several kidnappers were arrested in the operation, while some soldiers sacrificed their lives during the operation.

Abuja: The Nigerian Army has safely freed 44 students and teachers who were kidnapped two months ago in a major rescue operation. Kidnapping networks were also dismantled during the operation and several suspects were arrested, the army said. However, some soldiers also lost their lives in this operation. At present, all the rescued people have been kept in a secure hospital for medical care and will be reunited with their families after the health check-up is completed.

Kidnapping took place from three schools in Oyo state

On May 15, armed assailants abducted students and teachers from three schools—Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School and Community Grammar School—located in the Osiire area of ​​Oyo State, Nigeria. This incident had raised concerns across the country, as such major incidents are relatively rare in the south-western region.

Families heave a sigh of relief

The family members expressed relief after receiving the news of the hostages’ safe return. The husband of a school principal said the last two months had been extremely difficult for the family and the video released by the kidnappers had further increased the mental stress. Now everyone’s safe return is the biggest relief for the families.

Teachers organization demanded strengthening of security arrangements

The Oyo State Teachers Association, while welcoming the success of the rescue operation, has called on the government to further strengthen security arrangements in schools. The organization says the measures proposed under the ‘Safe Schools Initiative’—such as securing school premises, CCTV cameras, regular patrolling, involvement of local security groups and deployment of adequate security forces—should be effectively implemented to prevent such incidents in future.

Success achieved through joint operation

According to the Army, police, intelligence agencies and local security groups worked jointly with the military forces in this operation. During the investigation, the locations of the kidnappers, informants and their supporting networks were identified and action was taken. Officials said that the hostages were rescued safely by conducting a special operation on the hideouts of the criminals hidden in the forests.

Questions raised again on school safety

In recent months, incidents of kidnapping of students from schools have increased in Nigeria, raising serious questions about the education system and the safety of children. Experts believe that instead of mere rescue operations, a long-term security strategy, modern surveillance system and active participation of local communities can be a permanent solution to this problem.

Pressure on government to strengthen security increased

Security has become the biggest political issue before the next general elections in the country. The government says additional steps are being taken to increase security in schools and sensitive areas, but the opposition and human rights organizations say current efforts are not enough. Despite this successful rescue operation, experts believe that comprehensive and permanent reforms remain needed to ensure the safety of educational institutions.