At least 39 students and six teachers abducted nearly two months ago in Oyo State, southwestern Nigeria, have been freed by security forces, the Nigerian presidency announced Friday.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men attacked several schools in the Oriire district. Authorities in Oyo State reported that one of the abducted teachers was killed during his captivity.
In a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that eight kidnappers had been arrested and detained. President Bola Tinubu promised that those responsible would be brought to justice, while also paying tribute to the teacher killed in the attack.
Mass kidnappings perpetrated by armed groups constitute one of Nigeria's major security challenges. These criminal gangs exploit weak security measures and porous borders to abduct travelers, students, and rural residents for ransom.
Schools are regularly among the targets of these groups, although this type of attack remains relatively rare in the southwest of the country, unlike in northern Nigeria where the abduction of students is more frequent.
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