Parents and relatives of pupils and teachers rescued from captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State converged on Tuesday at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, where the victims were undergoing medical examination and psychological assessment.
The emotional gathering came as families eagerly awaited the arrival of their children and loved ones after weeks in the custody of suspected terrorists.
The victims, made up of 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a school principal, regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, following a coordinated military, police and intelligence operation that ended nearly two months of captivity.
The group was abducted on May 15, 2026, when gunmen believed to be members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) launched coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The assailants simultaneously stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, abducting dozens of pupils and members of staff.
Following their rescue, the victims were taken to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to receive medical attention and psychological evaluation before being reunited with their families.
The Presidency said the successful operation led to the neutralisation of some of the terrorists responsible for the abduction, while eight suspects were arrested during the mission.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Federal Government stressed that no ransom was paid and no prisoner exchange was carried out to secure the victims’ release.
President Bola Tinubu praised the security agencies for the operation, describing the rescue as a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence-driven security efforts.
“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso, in Oyo State after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists who perpetrated the evil act and led to the arrest of eight of them.
“My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, whom the terrorists gruesomely murdered,” the president said.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also welcomed the development, describing the successful rescue as a huge relief for the state and the affected families.
The abduction, which shocked residents of Oyo State and the country, had raised fresh concerns about attacks on schools and the safety of pupils in vulnerable communities.
The safe return of the victims has, however, brought renewed hope to their families, who are now looking forward to their full recovery after weeks of trauma.
