Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Monday formally welcomed the teachers and pupils rescued from kidnappers after they were released into the custody of the Oyo State Government by the Nigerian Army.
The official handover took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, bringing to a close the military phase of the rescue mission and placing the responsibility for the victims’ rehabilitation in the hands of the state government.
The victims had spent 56 days in captivity after being abducted from Ahoro Esienle and Yawota schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
Addressing those present, Governor Makinde hailed the operation as a remarkable achievement, attributing its success to the combined efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the mission.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing support throughout the rescue process, while also appreciating the commitment demonstrated by the nation’s security chiefs.
According to the governor, the overwhelming concern shown by Nigerians and members of the international community distinguished the Oriire abduction from similar incidents experienced elsewhere in the country.
He expressed gratitude to God for the safe return of the victims, describing the incident as the first kidnapping of such magnitude recorded during his over seven years in office and expressing hope that the state would never witness a recurrence.
Makinde acknowledged that the emotional and psychological impact of spending nearly two months in captivity would not disappear overnight, assuring the rescued teachers and pupils that the state government would remain committed to supporting them throughout their recovery.
He explained that although the affected Baptist school is privately owned, the government would engage with the school’s management to ensure that none of the teachers suffered career setbacks and that the education of the pupils continued without interruption.
The governor disclosed that the victims would remain under medical observation and receive psychosocial care supervised by the Chief Medical Director, Professor Leye Ladele.
He added that they would only be reunited with their families after health professionals certified them medically and psychologically fit.
Makinde further announced that the Oyo State Government had officially assumed full responsibility for the continued welfare and rehabilitation of all the rescued victims.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, explained that the successful operation was achieved through painstaking intelligence gathering and coordinated efforts among various security agencies.
He disclosed that preliminary investigations pointed to the involvement of certain local collaborators who allegedly assisted the kidnappers.
According to him, some members of local vigilante groups and hunters were suspected of aiding the criminal network, adding that the state government and security agencies would thoroughly review the incident to strengthen security measures and prevent future occurrences.
Major General Nnebeife also clarified why air operations were not deployed during the rescue mission, explaining that the victims were held deep inside a dense forest where helicopters could not safely operate. As a result, troops relied on carefully planned ground operations that eventually secured the release of the captives.
Speaking emotionally during the ceremony, the school’s Principal recounted the painful experiences endured by the teachers and pupils throughout their captivity.
She described the ordeal as deeply traumatic, stating that the kidnappers subjected both adults and children to persistent physical abuse.
She revealed that the male victims were routinely blindfolded and beaten, while frightened children who cried from exhaustion or fear were equally assaulted by their captors.
The Principal also disclosed that the abductors brutally killed the school’s mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, during the period of captivity. According to her, the terrorists carried out the killing in an attempt to intensify pressure on the authorities.
She further revealed that another teacher, Mr. John Olaleye, also lost his life while in captivity.
Her account highlighted the severe hardship suffered by the victims and underscored the enormous risks undertaken by security personnel during the lengthy operation that ultimately secured the freedom of the surviving teachers and pupils.
The abduction of the Oriire school teachers and pupils had attracted widespread attention across Nigeria, prompting sustained calls for their rescue before security forces, led by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with other agencies, successfully located and rescued them during coordinated operations across the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forest areas.
