Troops Surround Oyo Kidnappers: 46 Abducted Pupils, Teachers Trapped in National Park as Rescue Nears

The walls are closing in.

39 schoolchildren and 7 teachers kidnapped May 15 from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities are now at the centre of a military squeeze.

Troops have sealed every escape route. The terrorists holding them in a National Park hideout are boxed in.

And under pressure, they’re breaking.

—“Effectively contained” in the forest—

Security sources confirm: soldiers and operatives have surrounded the terrorists’ camp inside the National Park forest. No exit left. No movement with hostages possible.

The May 15 attack hit 3 schools in Oriire LGA, carting away 46 people. Now those abductors can’t run. They can only negotiate.

—From 4 demands to just ransom—

Desperation is showing. Sources say the gang, led by an Oriire indigene radicalized by Ansaru, initially demanded 4 things: release of detained commanders Mahmud Usman “Abu Bara’a” and Abubakar Abba “Isah Adam”, ransom, 2 Hilux vans, and Sharia law implementation.

Now? They’ve reportedly dropped most demands. All they want is cash.

When the noose tightens, kidnappers bargain.

—They killed a teacher to scare govt—

In a gruesome move to stop the rescue, the terrorists murdered one of the abducted teachers. Security sources say it was blackmail: “Back off, or more die.”

But troops aren’t backing off. Intelligence had warned of school attacks in the area months ago. Some schools were shut preemptively. The border corridor near Niger Republic/Kainji axis, with zero network coverage, has become a terrorist hideout as military offensives push them from traditional bases.

—“Victory signs are evident”—

A senior officer is confident: “The war against terrorism will be won. We will not relent until these criminals are eliminated or forced out. President Tinubu warned them. The signs of victory are already evident.”

DSS intel has already helped neutralize 168 high-profile commanders and arrest scores more from Ansaru, Boko Haram and ISWAP in recent months. Many have fled to neighboring countries.

For the 46 hostages in Oriire, the next hours are critical. Troops have the terrain. Terrorists have no way out. Freedom may be closer than it’s been in 5 weeks.