Army Chief Shaibu Confirms Major Progress in Ogbomoso Kidnap Rescue

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, has disclosed that significant strides are being recorded in the mission to free the 39 students and seven educators who were kidnapped by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. During an interactive session with media executives held in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, over the past weekend, the Army chief affirmed that operations aimed at rescuing the abducted schoolchildren and teachers are actively underway.

"Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo state, and we are making tremendous progress," he stated unequivocally. Shaibu further elaborated that the Nigerian Army continues to be heavily involved in various security operations across all six geopolitical zones of the country, tackling diverse security threats.

Recall that on May 15, armed assailants launched attacks on three different schools within Oriire LGA, leading to the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers, among whom was the principal of one of the targeted institutions. Tragically, days after their capture, the abductors took the life of Michael Oyedokun, one of the kidnapped teachers, while he was still being held captive.