Makinde Receives Rescued Oriire Pupils, Teachers After 56 Days in Captivity

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday received the teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following their abduction from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, assuring them of government support for their recovery and return to normal life.

The victims, escorted to the Governor’s Office in Agodi, Ibadan, by troops of the Nigerian Army led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government.

Addressing the rescued victims, Governor Makinde said his administration would ensure that the traumatic experience does not disrupt their education or careers.

He disclosed that the victims would remain under medical observation for between 24 and 48 hours at the 2 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan, where doctors would conduct comprehensive medical examinations before they are reunited with their families.

Makinde commended President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts, describing the successful rescue as a product of effective collaboration and sustained security operations.

Earlier, the GOC, Major General Nnebeife, said troops achieved the rescue by systematically dismantling the kidnappers’ network through intelligence-led operations that disrupted their logistics, neutralised informants and blocked supply routes.

According to him, the sustained military pressure eventually forced the abductors to release the victims unconditionally.

He also praised President Tinubu, Governor Makinde and all participating security agencies for their support, noting that the operation succeeded because of strong inter-agency collaboration and coordinated intelligence.

Speaking on behalf of the rescued victims, the principal of the affected school, Mrs Rachel Alamu, recounted their 56-day ordeal, describing life in captivity as traumatic and physically exhausting.

She said the victims endured harsh conditions in the forest while the abductors repeatedly tried to break their morale by claiming that government had abandoned efforts to secure their release.

The formal handover of the teachers and pupils marks the end of weeks of anxiety for their families and residents of Oyo State following one of the state’s most significant recent school abduction incidents.