Army Reports Progress in Rescue of Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers

The Nigerian Army is making substantial headway in its efforts to rescue 46 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State, according to Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu. The victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, were taken on May 15 from three schools in the Orire Local Government Area.

"Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress," Shaibu stated during an interactive session with media executives as part of the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. He expressed confidence that the ongoing military operations would result in the safe recovery of all hostages.

Beyond the Oyo incident, the Army Chief detailed ongoing operations across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones aimed at combating insurgency, terrorism, and banditry. He highlighted successes in the North-East, where troops under Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with U.S. partners, eliminated a senior Islamic State commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Over 1,872 insurgents have been neutralized, with many others surrendering, leading to the return of thousands of internally displaced persons to their communities.

Shaibu also reported progress in the North-West, North-Central, and South-East regions, alongside efforts to curb oil theft in the South-South, which has boosted oil production. He described the South-West as generally peaceful, characterizing the Oyo abduction as an isolated incident receiving the military's full attention.

In a move to bolster the Army's capacity, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Nigerian Army Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State. This brings the total number of depots to three, with plans to train 28,000 recruits to enhance manpower. The Army has also reviewed its training curriculum to strengthen counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism capabilities.

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Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress.