Parents and relatives on Tuesday reunited with some of the 44 pupils and teachers rescued after spending 56 days in the hands of kidnappers in Oyo State.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when terrorists attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Oriire LGA. They were rescued last Friday and handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan on Monday by the Nigerian Army. Two teachers died while in captivity.
The victims were later taken to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, where they received medical care, including psychological support. On Tuesday, emotional parents and relatives gathered at the hospital to see their loved ones after doctors completed medical checks.
One of the emotional moments came when Testimony’s mother reunited with her daughter. She thanked President Bola Tinubu, Governor Makinde and security personnel, saying, “Merciful God, I thank You. I never imagined that my daughter, Testimony, would return to me safe and fill my heart with joy. Who am I that You should love me so much? I also thank President Bola Tinubu, Governor Makinde, and the security agents. May God Almighty bless you all.”
LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Chief Medical Director, Prof Olawale Olakulehin, said 31 of the rescued victims had been discharged after being certified medically fit and reunited with their families. He said 39 children were admitted, while eight remain under treatment. He also revealed that one child was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect unknown to the parents before the hospital examination.
Also on Tuesday, the Senate asked Governor Makinde to withdraw his call for a United Nations investigation into the abduction and rescue. The decision followed a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and 108 senators praising President Tinubu, the Armed Forces and security agencies. Senator Adams Oshiomhole described Makinde’s request as “not statesmanly” and urged him to stop “trivialising” the rescue operation.
The Senate honoured security personnel killed during the operation with a minute’s silence and called for quick payment of benefits to their families. It also noted that Lance Corporal Adamu Hussain was injured. Meanwhile, the Federal Government accused Makinde of politicising the incident. SGF George Akume said, “When people complained that the President did not make a phone call, would that have freed the victims? What mattered was the strategy that ensured their safe rescue,” adding that the government would continue intelligence-driven operations against terrorism and kidnapping.
