CR Nnebeife, an Awka-born, Anambra State major general in the Nigerian Army led the crack team of special units of different security agencies that rescued the 44 school children and their teachers who were kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo state.
According to the Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations of 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the kidnap victims were rescue through an intelligence-led, carefully planned and executed operations on Friday, 10th July 2026.
Recall that the 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped by terrorists from their school on 15 May 2026.
Major General Nnebeife led the Army troops who worked in collaboration with special units from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) specifically the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC),the Defence Headquarters with Special Forces elements from the Nigerian Army, Navy the Air Force and the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies as well as local vigilantes/hunters/Amotekuns.
The operations, in a public statement by the army, lasted for more than a month and focused on identifying the terrorists kingpins that masterminded the kidnapping, bursting and dismantling of the networks and logistics links, including their informants and hideouts located within the Old Oyo National Park Forest, Oyo State.
It said that as part of the operations, multiple arrests were made within Oyo State and in other locations across some States in the country which completely disorganized the group, exerted overwhelming pressure on them and ultimately led the terrorist group to unconditionally release the pupils and teachers.
Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife is the 47th General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 2 Division in Ibadan, Oyo State, and is the Commander of Sector 3 for the Joint Task Force (Operation Fansan Yama). He assumed the office in August, 2025 following a major shakeup in the military following the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.
Since assumption of duty, he has led many specialized operations including a targeted operation in Kwara State to rescue abducted individuals following bandit attacks.
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