VIDEO: Military Hands Over Rescued Oriire Pupils, Teachers to Oyo Government

The Nigerian military has handed over the rescued pupils and teachers kidnapped from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to the Oyo State Government.

The handover took place on Monday at the Oyo State Governor’s Office after the victims spent two days under military care for medical treatment and routine profiling.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday said the rescued pupils and teachers would remain in military custody for 48 hours before being reunited with their families.

Speaking during a visit to the 2 Division Medical Centre at the Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan, where the victims were receiving treatment, Makinde explained that some of them needed urgent medical attention before returning home.

“I’m extremely happy that the children and their teachers are back. We will monitor them over the next 48 hours. Some of them are still very frail and need medical intervention, and that will be addressed,” the governor said.

He also disclosed that the military would carry out a final assessment on Monday before handing the victims over to the state government. Although the reunion with their families was delayed, Makinde said relatives were allowed to visit the victims, adding that a child who had been crying for their mother would be permitted to see her.

The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15 after heavily armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area. The attackers kidnapped 39 pupils and six teachers. One teacher was killed during the attack, while another died during the victims’ 56 days in captivity.