The pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom.

The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In a shared post on his verified X handle, Onanuga simply announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.

“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.

As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances leading to their freedom, had yet to be disclosed.

Details later…

The federal government’s fourth evacuation flight from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The Air Peace flight arrived last night with 282 returnees. This brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa since the evacuation flights began on June 11 to 1,141.

Over 1,000 Nigerians were said to have indicated interest to return.

Last week, ahead of Thursday’s flight arrival, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, asked Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to return home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s call came as two more Nigerians were reported dead in South Africa, bringing the official death toll of Nigerian citizens in the country since the xenophobic violence started to four. Some repatriated Nigerians have alleged that the figures are higher.

South African rights groups had set an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, but repatriation flights have continued.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu assured that the federal government would ensure that no citizen who expressed interest to return home would be left behind.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, foreign ministry spokesperson, said the fifth flight will arrive in Nigeria next week.

It would be the government’s final flight.

Travellers in the United States who require Nigerian visas will now submit their applications directly to the Nigerian embassy and consulates after the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) disengaged its third-party visa application service provider.

Previously, Online Integrated Solution (OIS SERVICES) functioned as the operator of Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres in the US.

However, a statement issued Thursday by Akinsola Akinlabi, NIS public relations officer, said the operator has been disengaged effective immediately. Akinlabi did not state why.

“Travellers seeking Nigerian visas are now required to submit their applications directly at the embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC, or at the consulates of Nigeria in New York and Atlanta until further notice,” Akinlabi said.

He conveyed the NIS’ assurance that the embassy and consulates have put adequate measures in place to ensure seamless submission, processing, and issuance of visas.

The immigration official noted that applicants are further advised to monitor the official communication channels of the NIS and the Nigerian mission in the US for updates on visa application procedures.

He added that the NIS remains committed to providing efficient service delivery.