Bukola Afeni
There was jubilation across Oyo State on Friday as news broke that pupils and teachers abducted nearly two months ago in Oriire Local Government Area had finally regained their freedom.
The victims, made up of more than 39 schoolchildren and 6 teachers, were taken on May 15, 2026, when gunmen invaded three schools in the agrarian community.
The schools affected were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele.
For 50 days, parents, teachers, and residents lived in fear and uncertainty. The abduction marked one of the most shocking attacks on schools in the southwest in recent years.
THE LONG WAIT ENDS
Early reports in June had claimed the children were released.
However Oyo State Government and Police Command debunked the claims, stating that rescue operations were still ongoing.
That wait ended on July 10 when the Presidency confirmed that all the hostages had been rescued by security forces.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the operation led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers who are now in custody.
He added that the rescue was achieved without any ransom payment.
In a statement, President Bola Tinubu described the rescue as a major win in the fight against criminality.
He said, “My government will get justice for the children and teachers, and for the family of the teacher who the terrorists gruesomely murdered in captivity.”
The Defence Minister also revealed that preliminary findings showed the abductors planned to use the pupils as bargaining chips to demand the release of some of their commanders.
REACTION FROM PARENT
In Oriire, the news was met with tears of joy. Parents who had spent weeks praying and protesting trooped out to thank God and security agencies.
A parent who gave her name as Mrs. Adebayo said, “We thought we had lost them. To see them come back alive is God’s doing”, she noted.
Traditional rulers in the area also commended the synergy between federal security forces and the Oyo State Government, urging that more attention should be given to security in rural schools.
Governor Seyi Makinde is expected to meet with the rescued victims and their families in the coming days.
The state government stated that it will provide medical and psychological support to help the children recover from the trauma.
A WAKE-UP CALL FOR SCHOOL SECURITY
The Oriire attack has once again raised questions about school safety in Nigeria. While mass school abductions have been more common in the north, this incident shows that no region is immune.
Security analysts disclosed that rural schools remain vulnerable due to poor infrastructure, lack of security presence, and porous borders.
They are calling for emergency security templates for all public schools, especially in border communities.
Civil society groups have also demanded that government go beyond rescue operations to prosecute all those involved and dismantle the networks behind the abductions.
WHAT NEXT
With the victims now safe, focus is shifting to rehabilitation and justice. The Presidency said investigations are ongoing and that all arrested suspects will face the full weight of the law.
For the families of Oriire, however, the priority now is healing. After 50 days of anguish, they are simply grateful to have their children and teachers back home.
In a swift reaction one of the community leader noted that despite the fact that they lost one teacher , they did not lose everyone. He added that the recent development is a new beginning for the community.
