Major General Nnebeife Led Joint Operation That Freed Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers — Army

The Nigerian Army has identified the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife, as the commander who led the joint security operation that rescued 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, the Army said the intelligence-driven operation was executed on July 10 through a coordinated effort involving multiple security and intelligence agencies.

According to the statement, the operation was spearheaded by Major General Nnebeife and involved personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), including the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Defence Headquarters, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters.

The coordinated operation led to the safe rescue of the victims, who had been abducted by suspected Ansaru terrorists on May 15, 2026.

The Army said the mission was meticulously planned and intelligence-led, resulting in the successful recovery of all the victims without collateral damage.

Major General Nnebeife, the 47th General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division and Force Commander of Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, assumed command at the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan, on August 19, 2025.

A native of Anambra State, he was appointed GOC in August 2025 after serving in several operational and administrative command positions across the country.

Military records indicate that the latest operation adds to a series of successful security missions conducted under his leadership, including the rescue of kidnap victims in Kwara State in October 2025.

Beyond operational engagements, Major General Nnebeife is recognised for championing troop welfare initiatives, including support for the Nigerian Army Personnel Insurance Scheme, while consistently encouraging officers and soldiers to uphold the military’s core values of integrity, discipline and selfless service.

The successful Oriire rescue has been widely hailed as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and terrorism in the country.