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Abdulazeez Abubakar
1 week ago
Overview
Meet the soldiers who hunted down Oyo kidnappers and brought the abducted pupils home
After 56 days in captivity, abducted Oyo pupils and teachers have been rescued. Meet Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife and the security agencies behind the intelligence-led operation.
The Nigerian Army has revealed some of the key officers and security personnel behind the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The rescue, which came after 56 days in captivity, has sparked celebrations across parts of Oyo State, especially around Ogbomoso, where many residents and travellers reportedly cheered as news of the operation spread.
While many Nigerians are celebrating the return of the victims, attention has also shifted to the soldiers and security operatives who spent weeks tracking the kidnappers.
Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife led the operation
According to the Nigerian Army, the rescue mission was coordinated by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife.
The Army said the operation was intelligence-driven and involved weeks of planning before the victims were finally rescued on July 10, 2026.
Nnebeife took over as GOC of the 2 Division in August 2025 at the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment in Ibadan. During his assumption of office, he promised to improve operational effectiveness while also prioritising the welfare of troops.
Before the latest rescue, the senior military officer had also led an operation in Kwara State that resulted in the rescue of two kidnap victims from the Babasango Forest.
Aside from commanding the 2 Division, he also serves as the Force Commander of Operation FANSAN YAMA Sector 3, one of the Nigerian Army's major internal security operations.
https://www.pulse.ng/story/photos-meet-the-soldiers-who-hunted-down-oyo-kidnappers-and-brought-the-abducted-pupils-home-2026071113204274653
