UPDATED: Dozens of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by armed gangs in south-western Nigeria have been rescued, officials have confirmed.

The 39 pupils and seven teachers were taken on May 15 during a coordinated raid on three schools in the Orire local government area of Oyo State.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced their release on Friday, stating that security forces had successfully rescued all the remaining captives.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” Mr. Onanuga wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

During the rescue operation, several of the kidnappers were killed, while eight others were arrested and are currently being held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Officials emphasized that there was no “quid pro quo” or swap deal involved in securing the victims’ freedom. The gang had previously demanded the release of a detained terrorist kingpin, but authorities confirmed that the commander remains in custody and is actively being prosecuted for his atrocities.

Details surrounding the rescue operation remain sparse, though security agencies are expected to provide a full public account of the mission shortly. The Oyo State government had repeatedly insisted it would not negotiate financially or capitulate to the demands of the kidnappers.

The abductors had initially demanded the release of detained militant commanders, a cash ransom, two utility vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related law in exchange for the hostages.

The crisis has been marked by severe violence. One teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while trying to escape during the initial school raids. Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded by the gang while in captivity.

The mass abduction triggered weeks of public anger and led the Nigeria Union of Teachers to embark on a month-long strike across Oyo State, which was only suspended earlier this month.

Federal security forces had launched a large-scale joint military and police operation in the region following the initial attacks to track down the network responsible.