The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a follow-up post on his verified X account on Friday, shortly after announcing the successful rescue of the victims.

According to Onanuga, the rescue was carried out without any concession to the kidnappers, stressing that no ransom or prisoner exchange was made to secure the victims’ freedom.

He also clarified that the terrorist kingpin whose release was demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is currently being prosecuted for terrorism-related offences.

“Updated: In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised,” Onanuga wrote.

“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”

He added that security agencies would provide a detailed account of the operation in due course.

The pupils and teachers had spent weeks in captivity after gunmen attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Orire Local Government Area on May 15. During the attack, one teacher was killed, while another was later beheaded in captivity, an incident that sparked widespread outrage across the country.

The President made the declaration on Friday in a post on his verified X account after security agencies successfully rescued the victims, who had spent 56 days in captivity.

“Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks.

“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,” Tinubu wrote.

The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities of Oriire Local Government Area. About 39 pupils and seven teachers were taken away during the attack.

One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed while in captivity.

The kidnappers, believed to be members of the Ansaru terrorist group, had reportedly demanded the release of two detained commanders—Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Abubakar Abba or Isah Adam. The Federal Government rejected the demand, which was later confirmed in a viral video recorded by one of the abducted teachers.

Commending the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, Tinubu described the successful rescue as a testament to the courage, professionalism and coordination of the security agencies.

“I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible,” the President said.

He also warned terrorists that his administration would continue to pursue those threatening the nation’s peace and security.

“To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country,” he stated.

In a separate statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that the rescue followed a coordinated military, police and intelligence-led operation.

According to Onanuga, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation, while several others were neutralised. He also reiterated that there was no prisoner swap, noting that the terrorist kingpin whose release was demanded by the abductors remains in custody and is facing prosecution.

Tinubu further commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation throughout the operation and directed relevant emergency agencies to work with the state government to provide medical care, counselling and other support for the rescued pupils and teachers.

The President also pledged justice for the victims and the family of Michael Oyedokun.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” he said.

The successful operation ended 56 days of captivity, bringing one of the country’s longest school abduction incidents in recent months to a close.