President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound joy at the successful rescue of the children and teachers from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, by the security forces. 

  Tinubu praised the heroic efforts of the security agencies, especially the military, the Department  for State Service(DSS) and the Police, for working round the clock in the last 56 days to secure the release of the abducted children and their teachers without any collateral damage and for arresting eight of the abductors and neutralising others.

Spokesman to the President, Bayo Onanuga in a statement said  Tinubu regretted the anguish that the children and their teachers, as well as members of their families and the entire nation, have experienced since the sad occurrence.

For cooperating with the Federal Government in all rescue efforts, President Tinubu commended the Oyo State Government and charged it to ensure adequate security around schools across the state. 

“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Orire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them. 

“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular. On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers. 

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered. 

“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” the President said. 

President Tinubu has also directed that the emergency agencies work with the Oyo State Government to provide all necessary medical and relief support to the children and the teachers. 

The Police Command in Ondo State said two suspected kidnappers were killed during a gun duel with operatives along Akure–Owo Expressway in Ilu-Abo, Akure North Local Government Area of the state

The command’s Spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, who made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Akure, said this was another significant breakthrough in its sustained effort against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

He said the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, July 8 at about 3:30 a.

m., when a patrol team from the Federal Highway Patrol Unit, Ilu-Abo, responded to a distress call regarding the activities of armed men at Olaiya Block Industry.

Jimoh, who said the block industry was located beside Ilu-Abo High School along Akure–Owo Expressway, explained that preliminary reports revealed that about seven masked armed men invaded the premises and demanded to see the owner.

“Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, the police patrol team mobilised to the scene, where the suspects engaged operatives in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

 “During the encounter, two of the suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while the remaining members of the gang escaped into the surrounding bush with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

 “Meanwhile, one locally fabricated pistol, live cartridges, four mobile phones, several face masks, as well as two ATM cards believed to belong to the criminal syndicate or their victims, were recovered.

“The bodies of the suspects have been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, for preservation and other necessary procedures,

“The case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and comprehensive investigation,” the spokesperson said.

According to him, the command has commenced efforts to track and apprehend the fleeing members of the gang, who are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.

Jimoh, therefore, urged residents, particularly healthcare providers and members of the public, to promptly report any individual presenting suspicious gunshot injuries or exhibiting suspicious movements at the nearest police station.

“The command remains steadfast in its commitment to deploying intelligence-led policing, strengthening operational responses, and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven within Ondo State.

“We, equally appreciate members of the public for their continued cooperation and encourage them to provide timely, and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements,” he said.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command confirms two separate gruesome murder incidents that occurred on 15th May 2026 in different communities within Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area.

The incidents involved the alleged murder of a mother by her son, and the alleged murder of a woman and her child by the woman’s brother.

In a statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State command headquarters Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed that in the first incident, Police Operatives attached to the Igbo-Etiti Division, at about 3:10 p.

m., responded to a report alleging that one Anikwe Onyebuchi (male, aged about 40) used a cutlass to behead and murder his 60-year-old mother, Anikwe Felicia, at Nkporogwu Ukehe Community.

The corpse and severed head of the deceased were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed her dead, after which the remains were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The suspect was subsequently rescued and rearrested from an angry mob that had severely beaten him and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. Full-scale investigation into the incident has commenced.

In a separate incident reported the same day at about 3:18 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad stationed at Ekwegbe Junction along the Ugwuagu/Opi/Nsukka Road responded to a distress call alleging that one Joshua Eze (male) similarly used a cutlass to severe the heads of his sister, Nwabuche Eze, and her little daughter, Favour Eze, at Agu-Ekwegbe Community in the same Igbo-Etiti LGA.

The remains of the deceased victims were recovered and taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead, after which the corpses were deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect was also rescued from an angry mob in a critical condition and taken to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed him dead. His corpse was equally deposited in the mortuary. Preliminary investigations further revealed that after allegedly murdering the victims, he buried their remains in a shallow grave alongside a dead white cock, suggesting possible ritual intentions.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has condemned the barbaric acts, ordering the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to immediately commence comprehensive investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both incidents and ensure necessary investigative actions. He urges members of the public to refrain from taking laws into their hands by resorting to jungle justice, regardless of the provocation, and instead promptly report criminal suspects to the Police or other lawful authorities for appropriate action.