The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Mr Sunday Dare, has donated N50,000 each to 25 schoolchildren recently rescued from captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The beneficiaries are among the pupils who have been discharged from hospital and reunited with their families following their release from captivity last Friday.
Dare announced the donation during a visit to the families of the rescued children in Ibadan on Tuesday, assuring them of continued support and concern for the welfare of the victims.
He also disclosed that the remaining 14 pupils still undergoing medical care would receive the same amount after obtaining medical clearance.
The visit coincided with the emotional reunion of some of the children with their families after receiving treatment for trauma and other health challenges resulting from their ordeal.
Scenes of joy and relief were witnessed as parents embraced their children and expressed gratitude to the Federal and Oyo State governments, as well as security agencies, for securing their freedom.
Before being reunited with their families, the rescued pupils and their teachers were received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House in Ibadan.
The victims were abducted by gunmen from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and concern across the state.
The abduction also triggered protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and several human rights organisations, which called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Makinde to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
The pupils and their teachers regained freedom last Friday after spending 56 days in captivity.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde has called on international organisations, including the United Nations, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction, identify possible security lapses and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The governor said lessons must be learned from the incident to strengthen the protection of schools and ensure the safety of pupils and teachers across the state.
