The LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has discharged 31 of the 39 pupils rescued from captivity after the recent school abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, confirming that they have been certified medically fit and reunited with their families.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Olawale Olakulehin, said all 39 rescued children were admitted immediately after their release for comprehensive medical examinations, treatment and psychological assessment.
He disclosed that while most of the pupils had recovered sufficiently to return home, eight others remain under medical observation and are receiving specialised care to ensure their full recovery.
Professor Olakulehin also revealed that doctors discovered a congenital heart defect in one of the rescued children during routine medical screening, a condition previously unknown to the child’s parents.
According to him, the child was diagnosed with a hole in the heart but is stable and responding well to treatment.
“One of the children was found to have a congenital heart defect—a hole in the heart—during our comprehensive medical evaluation. The child is stable and responding well to care, so there is no cause for alarm. We have commenced the necessary medical management and will formally notify the Oyo State Government to facilitate the next stage of treatment,” he said.
The CMD described the discharge of the 31 pupils as a significant milestone in the rehabilitation process, noting that the hospital remains committed to providing the highest standard of medical care until every rescued child is fit to leave.
He added that, beyond treating physical health conditions, the hospital’s multidisciplinary team is offering psychological support to help the children recover from the trauma of their ordeal.
Olakulehin assured parents and members of the public that the welfare of the rescued pupils remains the hospital’s top priority, stressing that specialists will continue monitoring both their physical and mental well-being throughout the recovery process.
The rescued pupils were among those abducted after gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
Following their release, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde formally received the children and teachers, commending security agencies and all those involved in securing their freedom.
The governor later called for an independent international investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction, arguing that such a probe would help establish the full facts, strengthen public confidence and ensure accountability.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from the presidency and the Senate, both of which insisted that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, possesses the capacity to investigate the incident through its own institutions.
