Nigeria's military has rescued all 44 pupils and teachers who were abducted from three schools in the southern state of Oyo nearly two months ago, following a major security operation that also led to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers, according to the BBC.
The military said the hostages are receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital before being reunited with their families. Army spokesperson Danjuma Jonah Danjuma confirmed the rescue in a statement issued Friday, adding that several soldiers were killed during the operation.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men raided three schools in Osiire district: Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School, and Community Grammar School. While officials have not disclosed the victims' ages, the schools serve children ranging from early childhood to secondary education.
The month-long rescue mission involved the military, police, intelligence services, and local vigilante groups. According to the army, security forces dismantled the kidnappers' support network, including informants and hideouts inside the Old Oyo National Park forest, an area increasingly used by criminal gangs and armed groups.
Authorities said several suspects were arrested during the operation, while additional security operations remain underway to apprehend others still at large.
The rescue has brought relief to families after weeks of uncertainty.
"It was a harrowing experience... but we thank God that it ended well," Professor Wole Alamu, whose wife is the headteacher of Community Grammar School and was among those abducted, told the BBC. He said relatives had been deeply distressed by videos released by the kidnappers during the captives' ordeal.
Hassan Ajibola, head of the Teachers' Union in Oyo State, welcomed the rescue but urged authorities to fully implement Nigeria's Safe School Initiative, arguing that stronger protection measures, including security personnel, surveillance cameras, regular patrols, perimeter fencing, and community security support, are needed to prevent future attacks.
The mass abduction drew particular attention because it occurred in Nigeria's predominantly Christian southwest, where such incidents are far less common than in the country's north, which has witnessed repeated school kidnappings over the past decade.
The rescue comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a renewed wave of mass abductions that have heightened security concerns ahead of next year's general elections. Despite government pledges to improve security around schools and vulnerable communities, critics argue that existing measures remain insufficient, the BBC reported.
