Security agencies have identified members of the gang behind the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, in what officials describe as a major intelligence breakthrough that has strengthened ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.
Security sources said weeks of intelligence gathering by the Department of State Services (DSS) enabled operatives to identify key members of the kidnapping syndicate and trace some of their associates in different parts of the country.
The development is said to have increased pressure on the abductors, who reportedly realised that security operatives had uncovered parts of their support network.
According to a source familiar with the operation, the kidnappers have become increasingly apprehensive and are showing greater willingness to release the hostages as security forces tighten the net around them.
Another source disclosed that a joint team of DSS operatives and military personnel is closing in on the kidnappers' location, expressing optimism that the operation would lead to the safe rescue of the victims.
The latest breakthrough comes less than two weeks after security forces reportedly blocked the abductors' escape routes and stepped up surveillance around their suspected hideout in the National Park forest, where the victims are believed to be held.
The victims—39 pupils and seven teachers—were abducted on May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota and two other schools in Esinle.
The abductors initially demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related laws as conditions for freeing the captives.
They specifically requested the release of Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara'a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri. Both men were arrested by DSS operatives last year and have been identified by security agencies as senior members of Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram.
Security sources, however, said recent operational gains have forced the kidnappers to reconsider some of their demands as they increasingly focus on securing a way out while releasing the captives.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has expressed confidence in the ongoing rescue mission, saying troops are making steady progress.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives at the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, Shaibu said operations to rescue the abducted children were advancing.
"Operations are currently ongoing to rescue those children abducted in Oyo State, and we are making tremendous progress," he said.
The Army Chief described the South-West as one of Nigeria's most peaceful regions, adding that the Oyo school abduction was an isolated incident.
Retired senior military officers have also welcomed the reported intelligence breakthrough, saying it could accelerate efforts to secure the victims' release if sustained.
Retired Major General Eniola Gbadamosi said identifying and tracking the kidnappers' support network gives security agencies a significant operational advantage, as criminal groups depend heavily on logistics, communication and local collaborators.
He, however, cautioned against premature celebration, stressing that the priority should remain the safe return of the children and their teachers through intelligence-led operations.
Another retired brigadier general, who declined to be named, said the reported progress reflected growing collaboration among the military, DSS and other security agencies, urging Nigerians to allow the security forces the operational space needed to conclude the mission.
A third retired brigadier general also warned against disclosing sensitive operational details while the rescue mission remains underway, saying such information could alert the kidnappers, prompt them to relocate the hostages or frustrate ongoing efforts.
He stressed that operational secrecy remains critical to the success of counter-kidnapping missions, particularly when the lives of children are at stake.
