A young lieutenant of the Nigerian Army paid the ultimate price during the opening phase of the military operation that eventually led to the rescue of more than 40 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State.
According to a report by The Nation published on Saturday, July 11, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde identified the fallen officer as Lieutenant Felix Ademe Isaac.
Lieutenant Isaac, who was born on August 25, 1997, was 28 years old when he lost his life. He would have celebrated his 29th birthday later in 2026.
The late officer was laid to rest at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Cemetery in Yola, Adamawa State, on Friday, July 10. His burial took place on the same day the kidnapped pupils and teachers regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
Oriire attack that triggered successful operation
The incident in Oyo State began on May 15 when heavily armed attackers stormed three schools in Oriire LGA. The affected institutions were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomosho.
During the assault, the gunmen abducted pupils and teachers before taking them deep into the Oyo National Park.
Governor Makinde later revealed that one of the kidnapped teachers was killed while being held by the terrorists.
In response to the attack, the Oyo State Government temporarily closed public schools within the affected communities, while demonstrations were held in different parts of the country as citizens called for immediate intervention.
Oyo: Intelligence-led operation offers breakthrough
The rescue mission brought together personnel from more than 10 security agencies and was coordinated over a period of about one month.
The operation was led by Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, and successfully secured the release of the surviving victims on Friday, July 10.
Speaking to the BBC, Hassan Ajibola, who leads the Teachers’ Union in Oyo state said he was “happy and elated” and felt huge “joy”, but urged the authorities to fully implement stronger security measures as outlined in their Safe School Initiative that was launched over a decade ago following the infamous Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.
He said: “I am very much convinced that should that [if the] program be fully implemented and as initiated, our schools will be very, very secure.”
Ajibola further stressed that the security strategy should include the deployment of security personnel to schools, installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, routine security patrols, proper fencing of school compounds, and the engagement of local security groups to reinforce protection in communities experiencing shortages of security personnel.
