Thirty-one of 39 abducted Oyo pupils were discharged from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso on Tuesday after 56 days in captivity.
Armed bandits attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting 39 pupils and six teachers. The victims regained their freedom on July 10 before undergoing medical evaluation and psychological assessment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital ahead of their reunion with their families.
Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, announced the names of victims certified medically fit for discharge. Olakulehin confirmed that 31 of the 39 rescued pupils had been certified medically fit and reunited with their families.
A hospital source disclosed that about 35 pupils, including adults and their teachers, had been discharged out of the 44 victims received after being certified medically fit to reunite with their respective parents. Eight children remained under medical observation and treatment as part of efforts to ensure their full recovery.
Parents waited from the early hours of the day for medical clearance to take their children home, gathering on the hospital premises. Parents and relatives of pupils and teachers rescued from captivity in Oriire Local Government Area gathered at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, on Tuesday, awaiting reunion with their loved ones.
One rescued teacher spoke after leaving the hospital. Dozens of schoolchildren and teachers who were rescued from kidnappers in Oriire Local Government Area reunited with their families on Tuesday after 56 days in captivity, as parents waited anxiously for medical clearance to take their children home.
Mary Dahunsi, one of the rescued teachers, addressed the occasion as she departed the facility. Carrying her baby on her back and accompanied by her husband, Dahunsi stated: “We thank God for life. Thanks to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, securitystated, “Weclerics and Nigerians for praying for us and for not forgetting us in the bush. We pray this does not happen to anyone.”
The atmosphere became charged when Olakulehin emerged to call out names of vclerics,certified medically fit for discharge. Parents acknowledged President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies, clerics and Nigerians for their roles throughout the captivity period.
Despite the ordeal, a number of parents dismissed clerics,ions they would abandon their communities. Earlier on Tuesday, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, disclosed that the Federal Govespecial adviserto estabpresidentmilimediabasespublic communications,d security units to federal governmentnment Area to strengthen security following the abduction.
One mother confirmed tthe Oriirel four of her children, along with her son’s wife, returned safely. The three schools attacked were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, all within Oriire Local Government Area.
Doctors discovered a congenital heart defect in one child, a condition the parents were previously unaware of. A hospital source quoted Olakulehin as disclosing: “The child has a hole in the heart, which was discovered during our medical assessment. There is no cause for alarm because the child is stable and doing well.”
The same source added that the hospital would formally notify the Oyo State Government to facilitate the next phase of treatment for the child. Olakulehin confirmed the hospital had received the 44 rescued pupils and teachers from the Oyo State government on Monday evening for comprehensive medical evaluation.
The victims were released on Friday, July 10, following a coordinated security operation involving the military, police, and intelligence agencies. The presidency stated that the operation led to the elimination of some of the terrorists involved in the abduction, while eight others were arrested.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Monday, officially received the rescued pupils and teachers. The victims were subsequently transferred to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital for evaluation before Tuesday’s discharge and family reunions in Ogbomoso.
The victims spent 56 days in captivity before undergoing medical evaluation and psychological assessment at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital ahead of their reunion with their families. The federal government announced plans to build two military bases in Oriire to improve security after the kidnapping.
With 31 of the abducted Oyo pupils now discharged and eight remaining under observation, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital confirmed all victims under its care were receiving continued medical attention as the Federal Government moved to reinforce security presence across the Oriire Local Government Area.
