Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday received the teachers and pupils rescued from captivity after being abducted from schools in Ahoro Esienle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The victims were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Nigerian Army during a ceremony at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, 56 days after they were kidnapped by terrorists.
The handover marked the transfer of responsibility for the victims’ welfare from the military to the state government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Makinde described the rescue as a remarkable achievement made possible through the combined efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support throughout the operation, as well as the leadership of the nation’s security agencies.
“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.
Makinde noted that although kidnappings had occurred in different parts of the country, the response to the Oriire incident stood out because of the nationwide and international concern it generated.
He said people across Nigeria and beyond united in demanding the safe return of the victims, adding that he remained grateful to God for the successful rescue.
Describing the incident as unprecedented during his more than seven years in office, the governor expressed hope that Oyo State would never witness such an occurrence again.
Addressing the rescued teachers and pupils, Makinde acknowledged the trauma they endured during their 56 days in captivity and assured them that the state government would provide comprehensive support for their recovery.
“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,” he said.
Although the affected Baptist schools are privately owned, the governor pledged to engage their management to ensure that neither the teachers’ careers nor the pupils’ education would suffer because of the incident.
He disclosed that the victims would continue to receive medical treatment and psychosocial care under the supervision of former University College Hospital Chief Medical Director, Prof. Temitope Alonge. According to him, they would only be reunited with their families after medical experts certify them fit.
Makinde formally announced that the Oyo State Government had assumed full responsibility for the welfare, rehabilitation and reintegration of all the rescued teachers and pupils.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the rescue was achieved through painstaking intelligence-driven operations and close collaboration among various security agencies.
He disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the existence of local collaborators who allegedly assisted the terrorists, including some members of vigilante groups and local hunters.
According to him, security agencies and the state government would thoroughly review the incident to prevent a recurrence.
Major General Nnebeife also explained why the military opted for a ground operation instead of deploying aircraft.
“The location where the teachers and pupils were held was deep inside the forest, making aerial extraction impossible. That terrain forced our troops to rely on carefully coordinated ground operations to achieve the successful rescue,” he said.
He commended the courage of security personnel involved in the operation, especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, while appreciating President Tinubu for providing the necessary support for the mission.
The Army commander also thanked Governor Makinde, the National Security Adviser, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chiefs of Naval and Air Staff, and other security agencies for their cooperation throughout the operation.
In an emotional address, the rescued Principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Folawe Alamu, recounted the harrowing experience the victims endured in captivity.
She described the ordeal as “torturous and horrendous,” saying both teachers and pupils were subjected to severe physical abuse.
According to her, the male victims were blindfolded and repeatedly beaten, while children who cried because of fear and exhaustion were also assaulted.
Mrs. Alamu revealed that the terrorists beheaded the school’s mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands. She also disclosed that another teacher, John Olaleye, was killed during the period of captivity.
Her account highlighted the brutality of the kidnappers and underscored the dangers faced by security forces during the operation that eventually secured the freedom of the surviving teachers and pupils.
The Oriire school abduction drew national attention and sparked widespread calls for the victims’ safe return before the Nigerian Army, supported by other security agencies, successfully rescued them during coordinated operations in the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forests.
