Gunmen have allegedly kidnapped the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Kolawale Mathew Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, and demanded a ransom of N30m for his release.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the incident occurred on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, between 5 pm and 6 pm.

The victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, said, “The incident happened when my father was returning from his farm at Budo Aare within this local government area.

“Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the family using the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.

“However, at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, a search team recovered his motorcycle abandoned in the bush,” he said.

Abiola Owoade called on the “Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, hunters, vigilantes and other security agencies to intervene and rescue his father.”

The victim’s colleagues and members of the education community in the local government also expressed sadness over the incident.

When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident on Monday.

The police spokesperson said, “I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mathew Owoade, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unharmed and arrest the perpetrators.”

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an ISWAP cameraman and recovered video recordings indicating the presence of three foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian identified as the group’s trainer and a Moroccan serving as a medical doctor for the insurgents.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the operational success was recorded on Saturday after troops foiled an infiltration attempt by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded before the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.

“They include a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” Goni added.

Goni said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

Goni said the failed attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” he said.

According to him, the attempted looting lends further credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports that some infected members had been executed by the group.

The statement added, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North-East theatre.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses.”

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment during the operation.

He added that initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their slain fighters during their withdrawal.

“This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement,” he said.

According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care. He added that both personnel remained in stable condition.

“The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North-East theatre,” he said.

Goni added that the outcome underscored the increasing difficulty terrorists face in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops, while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action.

“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North-East,” he assured.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday said no ransom was paid and no concession was made to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted by suspected Ansaru terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The President made the declaration in a post on his verified X handle after security agencies rescued the victims following more than 50 days in captivity.

“Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks.

“The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made,” Tinubu wrote.

The abduction took place on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked schools in Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota, and Alawusa communities, seizing approximately 39 pupils and seven teachers.

One teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed while in captivity.

The terrorists, linked to the Ansaru faction, initially demanded the release of two high-profile detained Ansaru commanders — Mahmud Muhammad Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar) and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Abubakar Abba or Isah Adam) — who were arrested by the DSS.

While the federal government rejected the demand, a viral video from one of the teachers while in captivity confirmed it.

Meanwhile, the President commended the military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force for the operation, describing it as a testament to the courage and professionalism of the security agencies.

“I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible,” he said.

Tinubu also warned terrorists that his administration would continue to pursue them and protect Nigerians from insecurity.

“To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country.”

The President’s statement followed Friday’s announcement by the Presidency that security forces had rescued the pupils and teachers abducted on May 15 from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.

In a separate statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the military, the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force rescued the victims after a coordinated military, police and intelligence-led operation.

He said the operation led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, while several others were neutralised.

The President also praised the Oyo State Government for its cooperation during the rescue efforts and directed relevant emergency agencies to work with the state government to provide medical care and other support for the rescued victims.

He also pledged justice for the victims and the family of Michael Oyedokun, the mathematics teacher who was killed while in captivity.

“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” he stated.

The rescue ended 56 days of captivity and brought to a close one of the country’s most prolonged school abduction incidents in recent months.