Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that the state government has assumed full responsibility for the welfare, medical care and rehabilitation of teachers and pupils rescued after spending 56 days in the custody of kidnappers.
Makinde made the declaration on Monday during the formal handover of the victims by the military at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, assuring that no effort would be spared in helping them recover from the traumatic experience.
The governor said the rescued teachers and pupils would remain under medical observation and receive psychological support before being reunited with their families, stressing that the government was committed to ensuring their full recovery.
“We now officially take responsibility for the rescued teachers and pupils. We will provide every necessary assistance and support to help them recover fully,” Makinde said.
He added that the state government would work closely with the management of the affected schools to ensure that the incident does not negatively affect the education of the pupils or the careers of the teachers.
According to him, arrangements have already been made to provide medical, emotional and logistical support to the victims, many of whom endured weeks of hardship in captivity.
Makinde disclosed that health professionals were still conducting assessments on the rescued victims and recommended that they remain under observation for an additional 24 to 48 hours to ensure they were medically stable.
“Parents will be allowed access to their children, but we want to ensure everyone is medically fit before they are reunited with their families. We do not want any complications after everything they have been through,” he said.
The governor also thanked President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for their roles in the operation that led to the victims’ release, describing the rescue as a result of effective collaboration among the military, police, Department of State Services, Amotekun Corps and other security stakeholders.
“Incidents like this have occurred in different parts of the country, but when it happened in Oyo State, the response was different. All security agencies worked together with one objective—to bring back the teachers and pupils safely,” he stated.
Makinde said the incident was the first major school abduction recorded in the state during his administration and expressed hope that it would be the last.
He acknowledged that the victims faced a long road to recovery, noting that the trauma of spending nearly two months in captivity could not be erased overnight.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said the successful operation was made possible by sustained efforts from security personnel who pursued the kidnappers from the day of the abduction.
According to him, troops and other security operatives remained relentless despite difficult terrain and operational challenges, eventually securing the release of the victims after 56 days.
One of the rescued teachers, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, who served as principal of the affected school, recounted the difficult conditions they endured while in captivity, including long treks through forests, exposure to harsh weather and constant movement by their captors to evade security forces.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle communities in Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping 39 pupils and six teachers.
Their rescue on July 10 brought an end to one of the most traumatic school abduction incidents recorded in Oyo State in recent years, with attention now shifting to their rehabilitation and reintegration into normal life.
