In a deeply moving statement released on his official Facebook handle, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, has revealed the horrifying details behind the 50-day captivity of abducted school students and teachers who recently regained their freedom. THENEWSCREDIT reports that The first-class monarch broke the news following a high-powered emotional visit to the Ojoo Military Cantonment in Ibadan, where the victims are currently undergoing medical treatment and evaluations. The Soun, who was joined by Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji (the Alaajawa of Ajaawa), Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide (the Onisapa of Isapa), and Distinguished Senator Fatai Buhari, listened first-hand to the testimonies of the survivors. According to the royal father`s social media statement, the accounts of life in the bush revealed unimaginable hardships. He disclosed that the male teachers were kept perpetually chained and blindfolded throughout their entire 50-day ordeal, adding that one of the teachers was tragically and gruesomely killed by the abductors. Expressing a stance of "gratitude over grief," the Soun described their safe return as a historic answered prayer that averted an impending tragedy. He explicitly commended the federal and state governments, the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF), and all security agencies whose unwavering sacrifices led to the successful rescue. The monarch concluded his message with a solemn plea for the nation to remember and pray for all citizens still held in captivity across Nigeria, praying that Ogbomosoland never experiences such a sorrowful security breach again.

The Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, paid an emotional solidarity visit to the 44 rescued schoolchildren and teachers. The victims, who were abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area, are currently undergoing intensive evaluation at the 2 Division Nigerian Army Hospital, Odogbo Barracks in Ojoo, Ibadan. This royal intervention came less than 24 hours after a highly coordinated security operation successfully brought an end to the victims` grueling 56-day ordeal in the hands of bandits. The monarch was accompanied on this compassionate visit by a high-powered delegation of regional traditional rulers, including the Alaajawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji, and the Onisapa of Isapa Kingdom, Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide. Together, the royal fathers spent considerable time at the hospital bedsides to comfort the survivors and check on their recovery progress. During the emotional visit, Oba Ghandi and Oba Olajide listened directly to the firsthand experiences of the victims, later describing their traumatic testimonies as deeply heartbreaking. The royal delegation revealed that the bandits had subjected the survivors to brutal treatment, including keeping the male victims blindfolded and chained for the entirety of their two months in captivity. The traditional rulers, including Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, expressed their profound grief over the news that one of the schoolteachers had been brutally killed by the kidnappers while in custody. This tragic loss cast a solemn shadow over the hospital room, reinforcing the heavy toll the community paid during the crisis. The mass abduction, which took place on May 15, 2026, had thrown the entire Ogbomoso zone into a state of severe anxiety and mourning for nearly two months. Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu intervened directly by ordering a specialized military-led rescue capability, prompting an intense collaborative effort. Throughout the crisis, Oba Ghandi and local monarchs like the Onisapa of Isapa worked tirelessly behind the scenes, collaborating closely with state authorities, local leaders, and security outfits to ensure the safe return of their subjects. The breakthrough finally came on Friday when a joint tactical task force successfully located and liberated the victims without any ransom being paid. Led by the General Officer Commanding the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, the operation involved personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and crucial intelligence tracking from the Department of State Services. The operation was highly confrontational; security forces neutralized several terrorists and took at least eight kidnappers into custody. News of the successful operation sparked wild celebrations across the local government areas of Ogbomoso. As the military rescue convoy drove through the prominent Takie Roundabout with the freed pupils and teachers, hundreds of jubilant residents lined the streets to cheer the troops and offer prayers of thanksgiving. Traditional realms, including the Isapa Kingdom, shared in this immense relief, celebrating the bravery of the security forces who put their lives on the line to bring the children home. Concluding the visit alongside Alaajawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji and other leaders, Oba Ghandi extended his profound gratitude to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the presidency, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for their unwavering commitment to securing the citizens. The traditional rulers emphasized that the entire Ogbomoso community will provide sustained local support, medical counseling, and resources. This united effort aims to help the children and teachers fully reintegrate into society after surviving such an unimaginable ordeal.

The family of slain teacher Michael Olugbade Oyedokun has expressed deep heartbreak following the rescue of the remaining Oyo State school abduction victims, stating that while the nation celebrates, their own home faces permanent grief. The security operation successfully freed the kidnapped pupils and teachers after a harrowing 57-day captivity in the Oriire Local Government Area. Security forces neutralised several bandits and arrested eight suspects, refusing the kidnappers` demands to swap victims for a detained crime kingpin. While Governor Seyi Makinde and the Presidency described the successful rescue as a massive relief, the breakthrough brings bittersweet pain to the families of the educators killed during the initial May 15 invasion. Speaking on behalf of the grieving family, Oyedokun’s niece, Oluwabukolami, shared a emotional statement online. She congratulated the reunited families but lamented the empty chair left at her own family`s table. "My heart rejoices with every family that has been reunited with their loved ones after weeks of pain, fear, and uncertainty," she wrote. "But as others celebrate, my family mourns. Our uncle is never coming home. His life was brutally cut short, and our joy remains forever incomplete." The tragedy began when heavily armed gunmen stormed the Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele. During the chaotic assault, 32 students and teachers were forcefully taken into the forests. Oyedokun and his colleague, 49-year-old Esiyan Adegboye, were shot and killed by the bandits during the initial ambush. The arrested suspects have been transferred to the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for interrogation and prosecution.

The Oyo State Government has officially announced the release of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area, heralding their freedom as a major triumph for principled leadership and security resilience. In a statement released in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, expressed profound relief and gratitude that the victims are finally free after weeks in captivity. Over 40 schoolchildren and educators were taken during coordinated raids on Community High School, LA Primary School, and Baptist Primary and Nursery School in the LGA. “We are happy to report to our people in Oyo that our children and teachers at Oriire have been released from captivity,” Oyelade stated. He highlighted that the rescue operation was a stern test of the government`s resolve against criminal elements. The Commissioner stressed that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde deliberately resisted immense pressure to adopt a "quick-fix" approach, maintaining a strict policy of zero-tolerance for ransom payments. “Yielding to ransom demands would only encourage criminals and strengthen their operations,” Oyelade explained. He noted that paying kidnappers provides temporary relief but ultimately endangers society by emboldening criminal gangs to destabilize the region. He reaffirmed the state`s long-term commitment to pragmatic, sustainable security measures, assuring residents that the government will continue working closely with security agencies to completely rid Oyo State of kidnapping and banditry. Following the release, the THENEWSCREDIT confirmed that the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, echoed the state`s stance, confirming that no ransom or concessions were made to secure the victims` safety.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday said the abduction of pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area occurred just hours after he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election. Makinde made the remark while addressing a meeting with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement in Bauchi, recalling that Oyo had not recorded a similar incident during his seven years in office before the May 15 attack. “For seven years, we didn’t witness anything like this in Oyo State. I declared to run for the presidency of Nigeria at four o’clock, and by 9 a.m. the following morning, the children were abducted,” Makinde said. Hours after Makinde’s remarks in Bauchi, the Presidency announced that all the victims had been rescued after spending 56 days in captivity. The Presidency said the victims were freed during a joint operation involving the military, the Department of State Services and the police, with eight suspected kidnappers arrested and others neutralised. According to the Presidency, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and are currently in DSS custody, while several others were neutralised during the operation. The Presidency also said there was no negotiation or exchange to secure the victims’ release despite the abductors’ demand for the release of one of their detained kingpins, who is currently facing prosecution. Following the rescue, Makinde expressed relief and thanked the President, the military, the police, the DSS and other security agencies for securing the victims’ freedom. The governor described the rescue as “a big relief” for the families of the victims and the people of Oyo State, saying the successful operation brought an end to weeks of anxiety after the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire. Tinubu also commended the security agencies for rescuing the victims without collateral damage and directed emergency agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide medical care and other support for the rescued pupils and teachers. Makinde formally declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on May 14 at a joint rally of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, where he announced his ambition to “reset Nigeria.” He subsequently emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement at the party’s primary later that month after running as its consensus candidate.

The 56-day hostage ordeal for the abducted pupils and teachers of Orire, Oyo State, ended on Friday following their release from captivity. The victims, who were seized by bandits nearly two months ago, regained their freedom after a grueling period in the kidnappers` den. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Presidency confirmed the development through Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. "Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo, have been freed by their abductors," Onanuga announced in a statement shared on his official X account. The news has sparked widespread relief across Oyo State and the nation, closing a grim chapter that had kept the affected families and school community in agonizing suspense. Security agencies have not yet released details regarding the conditions of their release or the exact number of victims freed.

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has strongly condemned recent calls to execute repentant insurgents and secessionists, warning that such actions violate both divine commands and international legal frameworks. In a statement published on his official Facebook page on Friday, Gumi argued that killing surrendered combatants or prisoners of war lowers the state to the moral level of terrorists. He cautioned that such actions could trigger indictments at the International Criminal Court (ICC). "Killing repentant insurgents and secessionists is against religious and international law," Gumi stated. "So also prisoners of war. ICC is listening if you don’t fear Allah. Where is morality? It’s the same logic terrorists employ to kill all others besides them. Emotions don’t win a war." Gumi’s remarks follow a major policy shift by the National Assembly. During Tuesday`s plenary session, lawmakers demanded an immediate end to the federal government`s amnesty and rehabilitation programs for surrendered terrorists. Citing the nation`s worsening security crisis, the Senate resolved that all individuals linked to terrorism must face immediate prosecution rather than rehabilitation. Lawmakers insisted that strict judicial punishment is vital to restoring public confidence in Nigeria`s criminal justice system. However, Gumi countered that emotional decision-making would not win the war against insecurity, urging the government to maintain its moral superiority by upholding legal conventions.

As the new wet season cultivation begins across Nigeria, a looming food security crisis is unfolding in the North. Armed bandits have established parallel governance systems across major forest reserves, imposing multi-million naira “farming taxes” on communities and threatening to completely choke off national food production. The annual planting period—traditionally a time of hope—has transformed into a cycle of fear and extortion for farming communities across Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe states. THENEWSCREDIT reports that In Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, bandits recently slammed the Kwandawa community with a staggering ₦20 million levy. Residents were handed a brutal ultimatum: pay the fine—allegedly retaliatory punishment for the killing of a bandit member—or permanently vacate their ancestral homes and farmlands. A similar crisis is paralyzing Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State. Residents across 26 vulnerable communities have been forced to pool resources to meet fresh financial demands from criminal groups. The armed gangs issued a strict three-day ultimatum, blocking farmers from accessing their fields until the funds are delivered. Further south, extortion networks have spread into the agricultural border zones of Kano and Katsina states. Sugarcane growers report being forced to pay up to ₦50,000 per acre to criminal elements before they are permitted to harvest their crops. The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has sounded a severe warning over the micro-taxation of agriculture, noting that the targeted smallholders form the bedrock of the country`s nutritional survival. “These small-scale farmers producing 10 to 15 bags are the ones providing food for Nigeria, not those who produce 500 to 1,000 bags,” said Alhaji Abdullahi Ali Mai Biredi, Chairman of the AFAN Kano State chapter. Mai Biredi warned that blocking agrarian communities from their land will trigger a dangerous domino effect. “If these farmers cannot go to their farms because of insecurity, there will be a shortage of food, and food scarcity causes problems. Shortages of food also cause further insecurity.” Despite the widespread extortion, AFAN acknowledged recent tactical gains by state actors. Mai Biredi commended the Federal Government and security agencies for deploying personnel to liberate several previously inaccessible agricultural hubs. Land preparation and cultivation have successfully resumed along the critical border corridors linking Kano and Katsina states due to targeted security presence. The AFAN chief urged the government to complement military action with non-kinetic strategies. “If they have a problem, the government should ensure it looks into their complaints because insecurity has caused huge damage in Nigeria,” he stated. Efforts to get official reactions from the Katsina State Ministries of Agriculture, Information, and Internal Security were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.

The Federal Government has commenced plans for the nationwide adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s single emergency telephone number. This strategic move aims to phase out multiple emergency lines and establish a unified national response framework. The presidency will engage state governors and response agencies to finalise the integration strategy. This was disclosed in an official statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications. The announcement followed a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa between Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Nigerian Communications Commission governing board. Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe led the NCC delegation during the strategic briefing. This development follows a recent endorsement by the National Economic Council, chaired by the Vice President. The council approved the 112 line across all tiers of government to eliminate fragmented response protocols. Vice President Shettima has directed the NCC to develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap immediately. The telecom regulator must collaborate closely with the National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen nationwide coordination. To ensure long-term sustainability, funding will be mobilised through the National Economic Council and private sector partnerships. The presidency has called for high-level commitment from all emergency responders to guarantee successful execution. The NCC has already established 35 Emergency Communications Centres across the federation to support this rollout. Effective operation will now rely on swift integration between state governors, the police, and ambulance services.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has issued a fierce directive to security forces, ordering them to eliminate bandits and terrorists immediately upon deployment without waiting for clearance from superiors. General Musa warned that any soldier or security operative who hesitates or waits for administrative orders before neutralizing threats will be treated as a saboteur and classified alongside the terrorists. The Minister handed down this definitive charge on Wednesday in Sokoto State during the official commissioning of 62 operational vehicles and advanced security equipment. The assets, valued at N27.1 billion, were procured by the Sokoto State Government to intensify ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the region. Addressing the frontline troops directly, Musa eliminated any ambiguity regarding the rules of engagement. "Once you are deployed, do not wait for any order from anybody to shoot any bandit or any terrorist," Musa stated emphatically. "I want to make that very loud and clear—anybody who refuses to shoot or kill any bandit or terrorist in the name of waiting for an order, we will treat you like a bandit." In addition to the operational directive, the Defence Minister underscored the massive financial investment made into the security infrastructure, reminding the personnel of their accountability. He stressed that the N27.1 billion spent on the fleet could have funded other critical public sectors but was prioritized to ensure their safety and victory. "It is important for those that will handle this equipment; this equipment cost billions of naira that could have been used for other aspects but have been dedicated to this," Musa noted. "So I want to charge you that you must maintain this equipment very well. We will come after a year to see how this equipment is doing."