Oyo Rescue: Military Confirms Death of Officer in Operation

​IBADAN — A somber cloud of national mourning has descended upon the Nigerian military and the people of Oyo State following the confirmation that Lieutenant F.A. (Felix Ademe) Isaac, a 28-year-old officer, lost his life during the intense, month-long operation to rescue 44 pupils and teachers abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area.

​Lieutenant Isaac, who was born on August 25, 1997, and was days away from his 29th birthday, paid the ultimate price while leading his men in the early phases of the mission within the dense forests of the Old Oyo National Park. He was laid to rest with full military honors at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Cemetery in Yola, Adamawa State, on July 10, 2026—the very same day the remaining hostages were finally reunited with their families.

​A Mission of Grit and Intelligence

​The rescue operation, which lasted over 56 days, was a high-stakes, multi-agency effort involving the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS). Led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General C.R. Nnebeife, the mission utilized sophisticated intelligence gathering to dismantle the terrorist networks and logistics chains used by the kidnappers.

​Military sources noted that the sustained pressure, including multiple arrests of informants and logistics coordinators, eventually compelled the captors to release the 44 victims unconditionally. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hailed the success as a victory for professional coordination, noting that no ransom was paid and no concessions were made to the criminals.

​Sacrifice Amidst Relief

​While the safe return of the children and their teachers sparked jubilation across the state, the cost of the victory remains heavy. Governor Seyi Makinde, who had consistently campaigned for the safe return of the victims and publicly addressed the dangers faced by security forces, visited the survivors at a military hospital in Ibadan following their rescue.

​The military has confirmed that Lieutenant Isaac was not the only casualty, as the grueling nature of the operation necessitated significant sacrifice from personnel on the front lines. Tributes have poured in from across the nation, with citizens and colleagues alike honoring the fallen lieutenant as a hero who “ran into danger so that innocent students could return home safely”.

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​The Nigerian Army remains engaged in follow-up operations to track remaining members of the syndicate, signaling that the pursuit of justice for the abducted victims and the fallen officers is far from over.

​Military Confirms Death of Army Lieutenant in Rescue Operation

​This video provides additional context regarding the security challenges faced by operatives during the search and rescue mission in the Old Oyo National Park.