Oyo principal and 40+ abducted pupils freed after 56 days

A school principal and dozens of abducted pupils and teachers have been freed after 56 harrowing days in captivity, with survivors recounting severe beatings, forced marches, and brutal conditions. The victims, abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026, were formally handed over to state authorities on Monday, July 13, following a rescue operation completed on July 10.

Principal Rachael Alamu of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, described the ordeal as one of the most traumatic experiences of her life. She and more than 40 others were held in open forests, exposed to sun and rain, while kidnappers moved them frequently to evade security forces. The captives were often forced to embark on exhausting nighttime treks through difficult terrain, sometimes walking for three to four hours. Alamu said the journeys left many with bruises, and while the youngest children were carried, older pupils had to walk and fell repeatedly.

The principal detailed the initial abduction, stating the gunmen used her car to transport the secondary school group to a rendezvous point with abducted primary school pupils and teachers. From there, the...