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“No Ransom Was Paid, No Concession Was Made“ — Intelligence-Led Security Operation Secures Freedom of Abducted Oyo Pupils After 56 Days
“No Ransom Was Paid, No Concession Was Made“ — Intelligence-Led Security Operation Secures Freedom of Abducted Oyo Pupils After 56 Days
The successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity has been hailed as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against kidnapping, with fresh details revealing that a carefully coordinated intelligence-driven operation, rather than ransom payment or prisoner exchange, secured their freedom.
A former operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), Seyi Adetayo, disclosed during an interview on TVC News on Friday, July 10, 2026 that security agencies relied on extensive intelligence gathering and strategic pressure to force the kidnappers to release the victims unharmed.
Providing insight into the operation, Adetayo explained that security operatives painstakingly identified the kidnappers’ families and close associates, including their mothers, wives, children, and other trusted contacts, as part of efforts to weaken the criminal network from within.
He said, “They identified the kidnappers’ mothers, wives, children, and close associates. They arrested them, recorded videos, and sent them to the abductors.“
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According to Adetayo, the operation went beyond arrests. Security forces systematically dismantled the kidnappers’ support structures by cutting off their supply routes, restricting their movement, and eliminating escape options, while simultaneously engaging in carefully managed negotiations that increased pressure on the abductors.
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He explained that the intelligence-led strategy ultimately compelled the kidnappers to release the pupils and teachers safely after nearly two months in captivity, without the government paying any ransom or exchanging prisoners.
The rescue has drawn widespread commendation from government officials, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announcing the successful operation on his official X account.
The President wrote, “The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo state have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made.“
Reacting to the development, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde expressed profound relief and gratitude to President Tinubu and the security agencies for their relentless efforts that culminated in the successful rescue.
According to a report published on the official X handle of The Cable on Friday, July 10, 2026, Governor Makinde described the rescue as a moment of great joy for the state and the families of the victims.
He said, “It’s such a big relief for all of us. I am overjoyed and can hardly say much. Thank you to all our security operatives and the President for pushing hard to have this done.“
The successful rescue, achieved without financial concessions to the abductors, has been widely viewed as a significant demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-led security operations and renewed collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies in tackling kid
napping and terrorism.
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