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Parents and relatives of the schoolchildren rescued from their abductors in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State celebrated on Tuesday at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, where the children are receiving medical treatment.
The rescued pupils and teachers were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and care after security operatives freed them during a coordinated rescue operation.
Families who had spent weeks anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones expressed gratitude to the security agencies and the Oyo State Government for securing the children’s release.
The parents broke into songs of thanksgiving in Yoruba, singing: “Thank God. We have seen our children. It is worthy of praise and thanksgiving.”
One of the parents, in an interview with News Central TV, said they had been informed that the children were responding well to treatment and were being properly fed at the hospital.
The victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the school principal, were abducted by gunmen from three schools in Oriire in May.
The Nigerian Army announced the rescue on Tuesday. The military also disclosed that some personnel sustained injuries during the operation.
Following their release, residents of Oyo State and other communities across the state went into celebration.
Residents of Yawota also observed Thanksgiving at the community’s church on Sunday.
Authorities said the rescued victims are undergoing medical examinations and receiving treatment before they are reunited with their families.
Oyo residents, education stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the public welcomed the rescue, describing it as a relief for the affected families and urged the government to strengthen efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
