Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Monday received the teachers and pupils rescued from their abductors after spending 56 days in captivity following the attack on Ahoro Esienle and Yawota schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The Nigerian Army formally handed the victims over to the Oyo State Government during a ceremony at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan.
Makinde praised the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for the successful operation, while thanking President Bola Tinubu for his support throughout the rescue mission.
“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Oyo State, I wish to express our profound appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his unwavering support throughout this operation,” the governor said.
He assured the rescued victims that the state government would take charge of their medical care, rehabilitation and psychological recovery, saying, “What you endured over 56 days cannot simply be erased in 56 months. Nevertheless, I want to assure you that you will not walk this path alone.”
Makinde also promised to work with the management of the affected Baptist school to ensure the teachers’ careers and the pupils’ education are not disrupted by the traumatic experience.
General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said intelligence-led operations and collaboration among security agencies made the rescue possible, adding that investigations had uncovered suspected local collaborators who allegedly assisted the kidnappers.
He explained that military aircraft could not be used because the victims were held deep inside the forest, forcing troops to rely on carefully coordinated ground operations.
The school principal described the victims’ captivity as “torturous and horrendous,” revealing that the abductors brutally assaulted teachers and pupils and killed mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun by beheading him, while another teacher, John Olaleye, was also murdered.
The rescue ended weeks of national concern over the Oriire school abduction, which drew widespread calls for the safe return of the victims before security forces secured their freedom during operations in the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forests.
