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Some parents have reunited with the schoolchildren rescued after spending nearly two months in captivity, marking an emotional end to the abduction ordeal that began in May in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The reunion brought tears of joy and relief as parents embraced their children, thanked God for their safe return and expressed gratitude to security agencies involved in the rescue operation.
The rescued pupils and teachers were received by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House in Ibadan before they were handed over to their families.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of the state by armed criminals.
After more than 50 days in captivity, 39 pupils and seven teachers regained their freedom on July 10, 2026, following a coordinated rescue operation by security agencies.
At the hospital, medical personnel continued to provide care and support for the rescued victims as their families gathered to welcome them back home.
Governor Seyi Makinde, speaking on Monday at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan during the official handover of the rescued teachers and pupils to the state government and their families, said the kidnapping raised serious questions that must be fully addressed.
He said, “The circumstances surrounding this incident are sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institution.”
Makinde said he was asking the appropriate international human rights and accountability bodies, including those within the United Nations system, to examine both the abduction and how the victims regained their freedom.
“Such scrutiny is not intended to undermine our institutions. Rather, it is intended to reinforce public confidence that the truth will be established and that every person found to bear responsibility, regardless of office, influence, or affiliation, will be held accountable,” he added.
The governor stressed that Nigerians deserve a transparent account of what happened, including whether there were institutional failures, negligence or collusion.
“The Nigerian people deserve a full and transparent account of what happened, who was responsible, whether there were institutional failures, negligence, or collusion at any level,” he said.
