Korede Abdullah 
IBADAN, Nigeria – All victims of the Oyo school abduction, including pupils, teachers and the school principal kidnapped during an attack on a community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, have regained their freedom after spending weeks in captivity, authorities have confirmed.
Officials announced the development on Friday but did not disclose how the victims were rescued or whether any suspects were arrested during the operation.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed gunmen attacked Ahoro-Esiele Community and invaded a local school, kidnapping 46 pupils, teachers and the principal in one of the latest attacks targeting educational institutions in Nigeria.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over insecurity and the safety of schools, prompting intensified efforts by security agencies, community leaders and families to secure the victims’ release.
Authorities confirmed that all the remaining hostages have now been freed.
“All the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele Community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been rescued,” officials said, adding that details of the rescue mission would be released later.
The kidnapping took a tragic turn during the victims’ captivity when one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers, deepening public grief and outrage over the attack.
A video obtained by Africa Health Report showed the rescued pupils and teachers expressing gratitude to security agencies and other authorities involved in securing their freedom.
In the footage, the victims thanked those who participated in the rescue operation after enduring several weeks in captivity.
The Oyo school abduction is the latest in a series of attacks on schools in northern and central Nigeria that have raised concerns over student safety and disrupted access to education.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
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