ABUJA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of pupils and teachers kidnapped about two months ago by terrorists in Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo were rescued during a joint operation by security forces, a senior government official said Friday.
In a post on X, Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, confirmed that all the abducted pupils and teachers from the Oriire community had regained their freedom in a rescue operation carried out by multiple security agencies.
The mass abduction occurred on May 15, when a group of gunmen attacked three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo state.
Local media reported that 46 people -- 39 pupils and seven teachers -- were abducted. One of the abducted teachers was later killed in captivity. Nigerian authorities identified the attackers as displaced members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
On Thursday, Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa said the terrorists had demanded the release of several detained commanders in exchange for the hostages, a demand the Nigerian government publicly rejected.
