After 56 days of captivity, the ordeal is finally over. The Nigerian presidency announced on Saturday, July 11, the release by security forces of 44 students and teachers. Kidnapped last May in the forest of Oyo National Park, the hostages were rescued safe and sound. A video released by the authorities shows about ten children, still in their school uniforms, sharing rations brought by the soldiers.

The inside story of a high-pressure military operation

The dismantling of the criminal network is the result of a long-term operation conducted jointly by the Air Force and the Intelligence Services. The Nigerian government has attributed the kidnapping to terrorists affiliated with the Boko Haram group.

To secure their release, the armed forces implemented a strategy of asphyxiation:

1. Dismantling the kidnappers' logistical networks .
2. Multiple arrests have completely disrupted the group.
3. Overwhelming military pressure , forcing the terrorists to release the hostages unconditionally.

“No ransom has been paid.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated categorically on social media: “No ransom has been paid. No concessions have been made.”

The operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the neutralization of several terrorists. The army, however, acknowledged suffering casualties, without specifying the number.

An unprecedented shock for the Southwest of the country

This mass abduction has provoked a huge wave of emotion and anger among the population, leading to demonstrations and the precautionary closure of several public schools.

And for good reason: this is the first time such an event has occurred in Oyo State, located just 300 km from the megacity of Lagos. Until now, this southwestern region had remained completely untouched by the jihadism and large-scale banditry plaguing other parts of the country.

Psychological reconstruction and civic vigilance

The return to freedom marks only the beginning of a long process of reconstruction. The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has warned about the psychological state of the survivors: many children are suffering from severe post-traumatic stress .

Strict medical and psychological observation is planned for 48 hours. Starting Monday, after a full assessment, the army will officially transfer responsibility for the victims to the state's civilian authorities.

Faced with fears that this criminal model could become permanently established in the region, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari made an urgent appeal to the local population, urging them to take an active role in their own security: "We call on people to do as much as possible and to speak up when they see something strange so that we can move this country forward."