Fifty-six days, the sun rose red over old Oyo’s forest dread, where children’s cries were swallowed deep, by men whose hearts knew only sleep of conscience, dead, and cold, and vile who stole our future from the aisle of learning, where young minds take flight, and turned that sacred space to night.
They came with guns on May 15, 2026, three schools invaded, robbed of breath — 39 children, seven teachers, torn from desks and broken features.
One teacher fell by blade’s disgrace, a martyr in that haunted place, while 44 were dragged away
into the bush’s grim decay.
But Nigeria does not bow.
The nation sent its finest Army, DSS, and Police, their will a fortress, never cease.
Through fifty-six days of siege and strain,through hunger, trauma, anxiety, uncertainty, terror’s rain,
they tracked the cowards through the park, and struck the terror in the dark.
Nine of the demons fell and died,
Eight more were caught and cast aside.No ransom paid, no hostage trade, no kingpin freed for their crusade — just justice, sharp as tempered steel, and courage that refused to kneel.
The rescue came with no remorse,
a victory for Nigeria’s force.
And when they walked from that dark wood, and through the valley of death, emaciated, worn-out, yet they stood, a teacher spoke with trembling voice:
“We’re grateful, Sir — we have a choice to live because you fought for us, because our nation would not fuss or waver in the face of shame.We thank you, Mr. President.”
The children ate the snacks they’d missed, their laughter echoed through the mist of trauma slowly left behind.
This is the victory of mind, over the terrorists who sought to break the futures they had bought, with sweat and prayers and parents’ tears, through fifty-six relentless days of waiting, hoping, holding fast — Oriire is free at last.
So let this day be marked in gold:
The day our story was retold
Not as defeat, but as a stand
of one united, fearless land.
From Oyo’s soil to Abuja’s halls,
the victory resounds and calls,
to every child who dares to dream,
terror falls; we still redeem.
‘NIYI ADELEKE
Proclaimed Media House
