A former Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed how Nigerian security forces compelled terrorists to release abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, revealing that intelligence-led operations, the isolation of the kidnappers’ camp and sustained military pressure—not ransom payments—ultimately broke the terrorists’ resistance after 56 days in captivity.
Fresh details have emerged about the military operation that secured the release of dozens of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, with a former senior intelligence officer revealing that the rescue was achieved by systematically weakening the terrorists rather than negotiating from a position of weakness.
Former Assistant Director-General of the DSS, Mohammed Ngoshe, said security agencies deliberately mounted sustained pressure on the abductors until they were left with few options other than releasing their captives.
According to Ngoshe, the breakthrough did not happen overnight.
He explained that security operatives first identified the terrorists’ movement patterns, hideouts and support network before launching a carefully coordinated operation involving the military, intelligence agencies and other security services.
Rather than rushing into a direct assault that could have endangered the hostages, operatives reportedly spent weeks gathering actionable intelligence while tightening surveillance around the forest where the victims were being held.
The former DSS chief said the turning point came when security forces effectively isolated the kidnappers.
Troops reportedly blocked escape routes, disrupted supply channels and intensified pressure around the hideout, making it increasingly difficult for the terrorists to obtain food, logistics and reinforcement.
According to him, once the kidnappers realised they had been surrounded and could no longer operate freely, the balance shifted in favour of the security forces.
Ngoshe maintained that the operation demonstrated why security agencies should avoid making concessions that strengthen terrorist groups.
His account aligns with reports that troops rejected attempts to force a prisoner exchange and instead maintained operational pressure while continuing intelligence gathering until the hostages could be freed.
Security experts believe the operation represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s response to mass school abductions.
Former DSS official Dennis Amachree said the success of the rescue sends a clear message that attacks on schools will increasingly attract coordinated intelligence-led responses capable of disrupting terrorist operations.
The abducted pupils and teachers spent nearly two months in captivity after being seized during the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
Their eventual rescue followed a prolonged multi-agency operation involving the Nigerian Army, DSS and other security agencies, with authorities confirming that several suspects were arrested while others were neutralised during the operation.
Beyond bringing dozens of children and teachers home safely, the operation is increasingly being viewed by security analysts as a case study in intelligence-driven counterterrorism. Rather than relying solely on force or negotiation, authorities combined surveillance, coordination and sustained operational pressure to compel the kidnappers to abandon their captives—an approach many believe could influence future responses to school abductions across Nigeria.