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Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that he will deliver a nationwide address next week to provide a detailed account of the abduction and rescue of pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area, following his visit to the victims at the Military Hospital in Ibadan.
The governor visited the rescued pupils and teachers on Saturday, where they are currently receiving medical treatment after regaining their freedom following 56 days in captivity.
Speaking with journalists after the visit, Makinde said the victims would remain under close medical observation for the next 48 hours to enable doctors assess their physical and psychological conditions before they are reunited with their families.
He explained that the state government expects a formal handover of the rescued victims from the Nigerian military after the medical evaluation, after which the state would oversee their rehabilitation and reintegration.
“We’ll 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. Then we can manage the process from that point forward,” the governor said.
Makinde disclosed that one of the rescued pupils, a young girl, had repeatedly asked to see her mother, stressing that the government would ensure family reunions are handled carefully to protect the emotional wellbeing of the victims.
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“There’s a small girl in there that has been asking, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ Obviously, we want the mother to be able to come across, and then we’ll determine the best time for them to come together as we confront these challenges,” he said.
The governor appealed to residents of Oyo State to exercise patience while medical experts complete their assessments, noting that the victims’ health and psychological recovery remain the government’s immediate priority.
Makinde also assured the people of Oyo State and Nigerians that his administration would soon provide a comprehensive explanation of the events surrounding the kidnapping and the successful rescue operation.
“In the course of the week, I will officially brief the people of Oyo State and the nation at large on what exactly has transpired,” he stated.
The pupils and teachers regained their freedom on Friday after a coordinated rescue operation involving the Nigerian Army and other security agencies ended their 56-day captivity.
