The pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on 15 May have been rescued, the Presidency has confirmed, ending a 56-day ordeal that gripped the nation. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced the development on his verified X handle on Friday: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies.” He said eight suspected members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several others were neutralised. Onanuga stressed there was no concession made to the abductors. A notorious gang leader whose release the kidnappers had demanded remains in custody and is being prosecuted for his crimes, he said. In a statement issued through Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu described himself as “profoundly happy” that security forces had successfully rescued the victims following a military, police and intelligence-driven operation. He said the operation had “ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days” and brought relief to the nation and the affected families. Tinubu also pledged justice for the victims and for the family of Michael Oyedokun, the teacher killed by his captors a day after the abduction, whom he described as having been “gruesomely murdered.” The President commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation throughout the rescue effort and directed emergency response agencies to work with the state to provide the freed pupils and teachers with medical care and relief support as they recover. In a video shared by Onanuga, the vice principal of Community Grammar School, Alamu Folawe, thanked Tinubu and security operatives for their efforts. “We understand your commitment to our safety, and we appreciate all you did for us,” she said, surrounded by other freed captives. Ms Folawe had previously appeared in propaganda footage released by the kidnappers, in which she pleaded with the government to meet the abductors’ demands. The gunmen had stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, and Community Grammar School and LA Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele, abducting dozens of pupils, teachers and the school principal. The attack triggered nationwide protests, including rallies by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and weeks of anxiety over the victims’ fate, with Governor Seyi Makinde earlier citing intelligence suggesting they were held within the vast terrain of Old Oyo National Park. Full details of the rescue operation, including how the victims were located and freed, have not yet been disclosed by security agencies. Ene Mary McDickson