The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has congratulated Nigerians on the safe rescue of the teachers, pupils, and students kidnapped by terrorists in Oyo State. He described their safety return as “a pleasant close to a bad chapter in the country’s history.”
Precious Ibe
July 11, 2026
Oyo students, teachers’ rescue, closure to a bad chapter—Speaker Abbas
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has congratulated Nigerians on the safe rescue of the teachers, pupils, and students kidnapped by terrorists in Oyo State. He described their safety return as “a pleasant close to a bad chapter in the country’s history.”
This is just as Speaker Abbas commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for showing leadership, and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for his cooperation with the Federal Government and security forces while the rescue operations lasted.
The Speaker, who hailed the gallantry of the Armed Forces, paramilitary, and intelligence agencies, as well as non-state security outfits, said the successful rescue has renewed the confidence in their capacity and capability. This, he noted, was evident in the nationwide jubilation that followed the news.
Speaker Abbas noted that the relief was not only for the families and communities of the abductees but also for all Nigerians who shared their pains and imagined the terror they might have gone through.
While calling for concerted efforts to protect schools and other public facilities that terrorists may consider as soft targets, the Speaker urged security forces to rescue other Nigerians in captivity across the country.
Speaker Abbas restated the commitment of the House to providing legislative interventions that will aid the safety of life and property as well as the country’s territorial integrity.
Terrorists, on May 15, 2026, simultaneously attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, all in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and kidnapped 39 pupils, students, and seven teachers. While a teacher was shot dead during the operations, another was beheaded days later.
After a 56-day ordeal that gripped the nation, the Presidency on Friday announced the successful rescue operation, with the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosing that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while several others were neutralised.
