Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has explained that the recently rescued schoolchildren and teachers from the Oriire Local Government Area will remain in military custody to undergo essential medical care and routine profiling.
Speaking during a visit to the 2 Division Medical Centre at the Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan, where the victims are receiving treatment, the governor noted that the abductees will remain under close observation before being formally reunited with their families.
“I’m extremely happy that the children and their teachers are back. We will monitor them over the next 48 hours. Some of them are still very frail and need medical intervention, and that will be addressed,” Governor Makinde told members of the press.
A final assessment is scheduled for Monday, after which the military is expected to hand the victims over to the state government. While a full reunion has been temporarily delayed, the governor clarified that families are being granted access to visit their loved ones, adding that a child who had been crying for their mother would be allowed to see her.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed attackers invaded three schools across the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities, taking 39 pupils and six teachers hostage. Tragically, one teacher was killed during the initial assault, and another died during the 56-day captivity.
The presidency announced on Friday that the remaining hostages had been freed through a coordinated operation by a joint team of security agencies.
