*Major-General Chinedu Raphael Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, in Ibadan, Oyo State, offers insight into the intelligence-driven operation to rescue 44 abducted Oriire teachers, pupils, stating the operatives sustained ‘multi-agency offensive’ tracking the kidnappers, and dismantling their supply network across Nigeria
Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect
Sequel to the freedom the security agencies secured for the 44 kidnapped Oriire teachers and pupils July 10, 2026, the Nigerian Army (NA) has offered an unedited insight into the intricacies of how the security operatives first destabilised the alleged Ansari terrorists’ network across the country before release of their victims in thr Old Oyo National Park forest, in Oyo State.
ConsumerConnect reports the Nigerian Military authorities stated this while handing over the 44 liberated teachers and pupils from Oriire Local Government Area of state Monday, July 13, 2026, to Governor (Engr.) Seyi Makinde, at the Government House, Ibadan, the state capital.
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After their 55-day ordeal in captivity, the Military authorities had offered the kidnapped victims medical care, psychological assessment, and psychosocial support at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services, Odogbo Barracks, in Ibadan.
Senior government officials, Military Commanders, other security chiefs, and the 44 rescued victims all witnessed the handover ceremony, held in the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking on what actually transpired, and resulting in rescuing the kidnap victims from the thick Old Oyo National Park forest,
Major-General Chinedu Raphael Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, in Ibadan, said the rescue followed a sustained multi-agency offensive that tracked the kidnappers and dismantled their supply network across Nigeria.
Sustained offensive to track kidnappers, dismantle supply network
Major-General Nnebeife disclosed that troops of the Nigerian Army had received information about the abduction at about 10 a.m. May 15, 2026, while attending an event at the barracks, in Ibadan.
He also noted that the security alert prompted the Military’s immediate deployment of personnel to the dense forests within the Old Oyo National Park, where the search and rescue operation began at the time.
The General Officer Commanding of 2 Division further explained that initial rescue attempts by a joint team of soldiers, local hunters, and “Amotekun” operators were severely hindered by the impenetrable topography of the forest.
Major-General Nnebeife related: “Because of the nature of the forest, how thick it is, we had drone teams, we have Nigerian Air Force following up.
“But in some of those areas, if you are under that place, you can’t even see rays of sunlight.
“This extreme atmospheric barrier compelled the Military to rely entirely on a gruelling, boots-on-the-ground operation deeper into the wilderness.”
On change of strategy amid intelligence-driven operation
Major-General Nnebeife also stated that despite the immense emotional toll, mounting public pressure, and casualties already suffered in early gun battles with the terror gang, where an Officer and a soldier were lost, the Military maintained a strict non-negotiation policy to overwhelm them.
Demonstrating the steely determination of the Nigerian Military to accomplish their operation, Nnebeife asserted: “We will never yield to terrorists’ request, we will not, and we will never do that.”
According to him, instead of chasing the bandits blindly through the bush, a massive joint task force, incorporating the Office of the National Security Adviser’s (NSA) Special Unit, the National Counter Terrorism Unit, Defence Headquarters’ Special Forces, the Navy’s Special Boats Service, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), shifted focus towards dismantling the network from the outside.
Then, came the last straw that broke the camel’s back, as the Nigerian security operatives tracked down fleeing gang members, and their informants in states as far as Adamawa and Kano, in Northern Nigeria, said the Military Commander.
Nnebeife averred: “The decisive blow was struck when the Military completely isolated and blocked the terrorists’ primary logistics hub in Ashamu, a town in Oyo State.
“Squeezing their supplies finally broke the abductors’ resolve.
“It finally put pressure on them, and it was then they were willing to release their captives unconditionally.”
GOC: Oriire’s operation exposes internal sabotage among local vigilantes, hunters
While commending the ground support of the local security operatives in the axis, the GOC of 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, however, noted that despite the triumph of the handover of the 44 rescued victims of kidnapping, he hinted at a sober warning regarding local security.
According to him, intelligence gathered during the operation exposed instances of internal sabotage and compromise among local vigilantes and hunters in the country.
Stated he: “There can’t be security if the people are not part of it.”
Major-General Nnebeife as well observed that the Army still would sit with Governor Makinde and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to reorganise the local forces in Nigeria.
He alleged that “even within our system, we have the bad ones among them”, and investigations revealed “a lot of collaboration (with terrorists) from them.”