Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has officially received the pupils and teachers rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following their abduction by gunmen.
The handover ceremony took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, and was attended by top government officials, military officers, security commanders and the rescued victims.
Receiving the returnees, Governor Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the military and other security agencies for their collaborative efforts in securing the safe release of the victims.
He also acknowledged the prayers and support of Nigerians, saying the sustained public concern helped keep attention on the rescue efforts.
The governor said the victims would require time and professional support to recover from the physical and emotional trauma of their ordeal.
“To the teachers and the students, I know it is a long road to recovery. What you have passed through in 56 days, we cannot undo in 56 months. But I want to assure you that the state government will do everything possible to ensure there is no disruption to your careers and no disruption to the education of those students,” he said.
Makinde announced that the survivors had been placed under the care of a specialised medical team led by former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge.
According to him, the medical team requested between 24 and 48 hours to complete comprehensive health evaluations before the victims are reunited with their families.
He explained that while parents would have immediate access to their children, the temporary medical observation was necessary to ensure they were physically and psychologically fit to return home.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful rescue resulted from sustained multi-agency military operations targeting the kidnappers and their support networks.
He disclosed that initial rescue efforts involving soldiers, local hunters and Amotekun operatives were hampered by the difficult terrain of the forest where the victims were held.
The GOC said the military suffered casualties during the operation, including the loss of an officer and a soldier, but maintained its policy of refusing to negotiate with the kidnappers.
Nnebeife said the operation later expanded to include personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Special Unit, the National Counter Terrorism Unit, Defence Headquarters Special Forces, the Nigerian Navy’s Special Boat Service, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He said the breakthrough came after security forces cut off the kidnappers’ major logistics base in Ashamu, Oyo State, depriving them of supplies and forcing them to release the captives unconditionally.
“The decisive blow was struck when the military completely isolated and blocked the terrorists’ primary logistics hub in Ashamu. Squeezing their supplies finally broke the abductors’ resolve, and they were willing to release the victims unconditionally,” he said.
The GOC also disclosed that intelligence gathered during the operation revealed cases of compromise among some local vigilantes and hunters, adding that the Army would work with the Oyo State Government and the Chief of Army Staff to reorganise local security structures.
Speaking on behalf of the rescued victims, the Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, Mrs Racheal Alamu, recounted the psychological torture they endured while in captivity.
She said the kidnappers repeatedly told them the government had abandoned them in an attempt to weaken their resolve, adding that they only realised after their rescue that efforts to secure their freedom had continued throughout.
Alamu also revealed that two teachers were killed by the abductors during their captivity.
“We have scars already. We believe with time we will heal. And we pray that for those who lost their lives, God will console their families,” she said.
The rescued teachers and pupils were later transferred to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, for further medical evaluation and monitoring.
