Fresh details have emerged on the intelligence-led operation that culminated in the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, with security sources disclosing to *Observers Times* that the strategic arrest of the kidnappers’ family members proved to be the decisive turning point.
Recall that 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers were abducted by terrorists on May 15, 2026, from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota, and Alawusa communities. While one of the teachers was killed in captivity, the remaining victims were rescued on July 10 during a coordinated operation involving the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Inside sources disclosed to Observers Times that after weeks of sustained intelligence gathering and military pressure, DSS operatives tracked down and arrested several wives and children of the kidnappers in various communities and cities across the country.
The operation, coordinated by a senior DSS official, took place after security forces had sealed off the terrorists’ escape routes and surrounded their hideout inside the National Park forest. The suspects’ family members were subsequently moved to Abuja, where the wives were interrogated in accordance with standard investigative procedures.
Terrorists’ Proposed Swap Rejected
Sources disclosed to *Observers Times* that video recordings of the interrogations were leaked to the kidnappers—a development that reportedly unsettled the gang and altered the dynamics of the standoff.
“The kidnappers suddenly became more responsive. They abandoned their earlier hardline position and started making frequent contact instead of disappearing after making demands,” an inside source told Observers Times
The terrorists subsequently proposed releasing the abducted pupils and teachers in exchange for the freedom of their wives and a guarantee of safe passage.
However, security agencies flatly rejected the proposal, insisting that the hostages must first be released unconditionally and that the kidnappers must surrender or face elimination.
Investigators believe the detention of the terrorists’ family members acted as a shield for the hostages, as the abductors feared the consequences of harming the pupils and teachers.
The Final Assault
As negotiations stalled, the joint rescue force steadily tightened the cordon around the forest hideout. An inside source disclosed to *Observers Times* that the final order to storm the camp was issued on a Thursday night after fresh intelligence confirmed the hostages were no longer being used as human shields.
The assault was swift, well-coordinated, and backed by overwhelming firepower, catching the terrorists off guard. In the weeks preceding the raid, troops had engaged the terrorists in repeated skirmishes designed to deplete their ammunition and weaken their fighting capability.
“When the final operation commenced, the resistance was significantly lower than anticipated because they had already been weakened,” the source added.
During the operation, scores of terrorists were killed, while eight others were arrested. Although the rescue team suffered casualties, all the surviving hostages were safely rescued.
Lessons from the Past
Inside sources disclosed to *Observers Times* that the decision to launch a direct military assault, rather than prolong negotiations, was heavily influenced by lessons learned from the abduction of retired Major General Abubakar Rabbe in Katsina State.
In that case, the DSS had recommended an immediate military assault, but authorities opted for prolonged negotiations in hopes of securing a peaceful release. Gen. Rabbe subsequently died in captivity due to an underlying medical condition. Security officials said that outcome reinforced the view that negotiations with heavily armed groups often carry greater risks than swift, intelligence-backed tactical operations.
The arrests of the suspects’ family members align with the federal government’s policy against paying ransoms or negotiating with terrorists.
Before the breakthrough, the kidnappers had demanded the release of detained Ansaru commanders Mahmud Usman (alias Abu Bara’a) and Abubakar Abba (alias Isah Adam), alongside ransom payments and Hilux vehicles. Both commanders had been arrested by the DSS last year.
Security sources confirmed that the children of the suspects who committed no offense will be released, while any of the wives found to have actively aided the criminal enterprise will face prosecution.
