The Defence Headquarters has revealed that the military suffered casualties in the coordinated joint operations for the rescue of the kidnapped school children and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.

The Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjumah, in a statement, indicated that the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, followed an intelligence-led and well-coordinated operation in the Old Oyo National Park and other parts of the country led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General C.R. Nnebeife.

The Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations Officer said the operation was carried out in collaboration with special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser, specifically the National Counter Terrorism Center, NCTC, the Defence Headquarters, Special Forces from the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, DSS, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security agencies. Local vigilantes, hunters while Amotekun Corps also participated.

According to , Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjumah, the operation lasted over one month and focused on identifying the terrorist kingpins behind the kidnapping, as well as dismantling their networks, logistics links, informants and hideouts located within the Old Oyo National Park Forest.

He stated that multiple arrests were made within Oyo State and in other states across the country, the arrests disorganized the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led to the unconditional release of the pupils and teachers.

Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjumah disclosed: “It suffices to note that the operations were carefully planned and executed to avoid collateral damage and to ensure that the innocent children and teachers were safely rescued. However, there were some casualties on the part of the security forces.”

The rescued pupils and teachers are currently receiving medical attention in an undisclosed hospital and will be handed over to the Oyo State Government in due course to be reunited with their families, the military said.