Freed Oyo pupils and teachers joyfully return to their families after hospital stay

The 44 pupils and teachers who were kidnapped and held for 56 days have started reuniting with their families. This follows their discharge from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso. The long wait is finally over for their relatives, who feared they might never see their loved ones again.

Emotional scenes took place on Tuesday evening at the hospital where the victims received treatment and support since their rescue. Parents, siblings, and relatives shed tears of joy as they embraced the returning children.

Hospital staff helped with the discharge process, calling out the names of the rescued pupils. Anxious family members stepped forward to take them home. TVCNews reported that 31 victims were discharged, while one is still being checked for a heart defect.

Among those reunited were Testimony, Aliyu Ahmed, Abati Elizabeth, and Adeleke Joshua. Their names echoed in the hall as emotional family members rushed to hug them, offering tears, prayers, and thanks.

In one of the videos shared, a mother, filled with emotion after hugging her daughter Testimony, thanked God and security agencies for bringing her child back alive. "God of heaven and earth, I thank God, Governor Seyi Makinde, Tinubu, Army, vigilantes, and those that support us with prayers," she said.

These reunions came just a day after the victims were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Nigerian military. This followed their rescue during a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, local hunters, and vigilantes.

The victims had to stay under medical observation for 24 hours before they could go home to their families.

This rescue ended one of Oyo State’s most traumatic school kidnappings. It happened on May 15 when gunmen abducted pupils and teachers from Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Primary School, Esinele; and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, all in Oriire Local Government Area.

Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School in Esinele, spoke after the handover on Monday. She described the 56 days in captivity as a nightmare filled with fear, hunger, and constant movement through thick forests.

She said the kidnappers often moved the captives at night whenever they suspected security forces were getting close. "There were times we had to move from one place to another. Once they believed the place had been discovered, we would start moving around 7:00pm or 8:00pm. Sometimes we walked for three to four hours at night," she recalled.

Mrs Alamu also shared that the younger children were beaten repeatedly by the kidnappers. The male captives were blindfolded, handcuffed, and chained. She revealed that the kidnappers killed two teachers, including mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun. A video of his beheading circulated widely, as the kidnappers hoped it would pressure the government.

"They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the government to provide them whatever they wanted," she said.

Despite the trauma, Mrs Alamu said faith kept both teachers and pupils strong during their ordeal. "We have scars already, but we believe it is now time to heal," she said.

The rescue operation was successful but came with a heavy cost. Two teachers and security personnel lost their lives during the effort to free the captives. Authorities have promised to continue fighting against criminal gangs in the forests of Oyo State while providing medical and psychological support for the rescued victims.