Rescued pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State may reunite with their families today (Monday) following their anticipated formal handover by the military to the Oyo State Government after 48 hours of medical observation.
The victims, who regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity, have been receiving medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who visited the victims on Saturday, had disclosed that they would remain under medical observation for 48 hours before being formally handed over to the state government.
He said, “Our plan right now is to watch them over the next 48 hours. So by Monday, we think an assessment will be done, and maybe there’ll be a formal transfer from the military to the state, and then we can manage the process from that point forward.”
Makinde also disclosed that arrangements had already begun to reunite the rescued victims with their families, revealing that some of the children had repeatedly asked to see their parents after regaining freedom.
“But also today, we are putting logistics together to at least bring the family members to come and see them. There’s a small girl in there who basically has been asking, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ So, at least we want the mom to be able to come and then see her,” he added.
In Ogbomoso, on Sunday, some parents of the victims, including Deborah Oyesola, Adesola Akano, and Prof Wole Alamu, took to religious houses while indicating that they were anxiously awaiting the military’s formal handover of the victims to the state government.
A source also confirmed that Prof Alamu, husband of the principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, arrived in Ibadan on Sunday night, apparently in anticipation of seeing his wife after her release.
The expected reunion comes barely two days after the Federal Government announced the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers who were kidnapped when heavily armed gunmen invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The victims are expected to be formally handed over by the military to the Oyo State Government after completing medical evaluation and psychosocial support at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.
The anticipated handover is expected to pave the way for their reunion with family members before the state government begins the next phase of rehabilitation and reintegration.
However, there was still an air of uncertainty about the Monday meeting, noting that the decision on the victims’ handover was all in the hands of the military.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, told The PUNCH that the state was hopeful the military would complete the handover on Monday.
“We are hopeful that the military will formally hand them over to the state tomorrow (Monday). That is what we were told. But the military is in charge,” he said.
Although he expressed optimism that the process would be completed as scheduled, security sources and some government officials said the situation remained fluid.
They explained that while preparations for the formal transfer had been concluded, operational considerations could still alter the timetable at the last minute.
There were scenes of thanksgiving in churches in Ogbomoso on Sunday as families thanked God for the rescue of their loved ones.
The husband of the principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Prof Alamu, broke into a joyful dance during a thanksgiving service held in Ogbomoso on Sunday.
A video shared on Sunday showed the don dancing with other worshippers as they sang songs of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating the safe return of his wife and the other victims after nearly two months in captivity.
The thanksgiving service marked one of the family’s first public celebrations following Mrs Alamu’s release.