Some wives of suspected terrorists involved in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State may face prosecution if ongoing investigations confirm their active participation in the kidnapping operation, security sources have revealed.

The development comes after the successful rescue of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, 2026 after one teacher was murdered in captivity on July 10.

Security agencies have stepped up efforts to locate the abductors, as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested several wives and children of the suspected kidnappers during intelligence-led operations carried out in different parts of the country, security sources familiar with the operation said.

The family members were later taken to Abuja where the women were questioned as part of the investigation.

Security sources said federal government officials were differentiating between relatives who were just connected to the suspects and others who might have been active in their activities.

One source said: “Children who have committed no offence will be released but any of the wives found to have played active roles in the criminal enterprise will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

It was the arrests of the family members, investigators believe, that made the operation successful, reducing the chance the terrorists would harm the abducted victims. Meanwhile, security forces tightened their cordon around the hideout of the kidnappers in the forest of the National Park.

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Sources said the kidnappers became more responsive in contacts with negotiators after weeks of sustained military pressure and intelligence gathering. Finally, they demanded the release of their wives in exchange for freeing the hostages and for guarantees of safe passage.

The security agencies spurned the proposal and demanded the unconditional release of the victims and surrender of the terrorists or face military action.

Later intelligence indicated that the hostages were no longer being used as human shields and security authorities authorised a coordinated assault on the terrorists’ camp.

The operation was successful as all the schoolchildren and teachers that survived were rescued while scores of terrorists were reported killed and eight suspects arrested.

Security sources said the operation’s handling was consistent with the federal government’s policy of not paying ransom or negotiating with terrorist groups.

The abductors were said to have demanded ransom, two Hilux vehicles, the release of detained Ansaru commanders including Mahmud Usman, aka Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar and his deputy, Abubakar Abba aka Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri and enforcement of Sharia-related laws as conditions for freeing the victims.

The authorities have refused the demands and opted for a sustained intelligence and military operation.

Security agencies are investigating the activities of the arrested suspects and their family members and will determine which individuals, if any, will face criminal charges and which will be released.

Borno Youths Protest Over Insecurity, Demand More Action After Oyo Rescue

While, youths and students in Borno State on Sunday held a rally against the deteriorating insecurity ravaging the country, and urged the government to take tougher measures against Boko Haram and bandits after the successful rescue of 44 Oyo students.

The campaign tagged #UniteAgainstTerror, brought student groups and youths across the state for an awareness campaign, at the Post Office area of Maiduguri, the state’s capital.

While addressing the protest, the leader of the Youths and Students Forum in Borno State, Suleiman Muhammed, commended the federal government on the rescue of the abducted students in Oyo State, and called for stronger action to rescue all kidnapped victims in Borno State.

Muhammed also cautioned against falling for the antics of the terrorist group by acceding to its demands for ransom payments, saying if such requests were granted, they could further worsen insecurity in the country.

“This campaign today is to call our people, youths and all Nigerians citizens to join in one voice and fight against terrorism.

“The government has tried not to accept the demands of the terrorists because of what happened in Oriire, Oyo State. Also our security agencies have done what they are supposed to do.

“We think the government will achieve the same thing in Borno State. “We are aware that the government will not take a stand on the issue in a specific region,” he said.

He called for more strategic efforts to end insecurity by investing in youth empowerment and creating an enabling environment for the masses to thrive while appreciating the government.

“We appreciate what the government has been doing, but we want to call on them to please do more to bring an end to this insurgency.

Muhammed added that the government should create an enabling environment for the youths to reduce the rate of crime in the country.

The protest also called for the political will through investment in security and support for security agencies.

One of them, Khadijat Abdullahi, said “For this fight to stop, the government must invest in the security system of the country by equipping troops and improving their welfare.

They also have to look beyond the fight by identifying the underlying causes that make people turn to crime. One of them is poorness. “Youth need jobs and opportunities in the country,” she stressed.

Placards at the campaign ground had messages such as: Unity Our Weapon Against Terrorism; Say No To Collaborating With Terrorists; Say No To Terrorism And Yes To Peace; Terror Divides, Unity Prevails.

Other included We Stand Together Against Terrorism and Criminality, We Are Stronger Together, and A Secure Nigeria Begins With All of Us.

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