The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has assured Nigerians that the military is making significant headway in efforts to rescue the 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Port Harcourt on Saturday as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day celebration, Shaibu said troops were actively pursuing the rescue mission.
“Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress,” the army chief said.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 after armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The abductees included 39 schoolchildren, seven teachers and the principal of one of the affected schools.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation across the country, with citizens and civil society groups demanding urgent action to secure the victims’ release. The situation worsened after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed while in captivity.
Providing a broader assessment of ongoing military operations nationwide, Shaibu said the Nigerian Army remained committed to addressing security threats across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
He disclosed that troops under Operation Hadin Kai had continued to record notable successes against insurgents in the North-East.
“Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised over 1,872 insurgents, while many terrorists have surrendered to troops,” he stated.
According to the COAS, the improved security situation in parts of the North-East has also facilitated the return of displaced residents to their communities. He cited the closure of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Bama, Borno State, as evidence of the progress being made.
Shaibu further noted that troops under Operation Fansan Yamma have sustained pressure on armed bandit groups operating in the North-West, reaffirming the military’s resolve to restore peace and security across the country.
