Yesterday was probably one of the increasingly rare days of tremendous happiness for Nigerians as abducted students and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State were rescued.
Premium Times reports that Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu said on Friday that some of the terrorists who kidnapped the pupils and teachers were killed during the successful rescue operation. He also said at least eight of the terrorists were arrested.
The students and their teachers were involved in a 56-day standoff that began when terrorists seized them on 15 May.
Sources familiar with the matter told Premium Times reporter that the abductees were freed following an operation by security forces from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), State Security Service (SSS), the Nigerian Army, the police and other security agents.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the president praised “the heroic efforts” of the security agencies for freeing the captives.
“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralized some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” Mr Tinubu was quoted as saying.
While celebrating the safe return of the hostages, the president acknowledged the deep anguish experienced by the victims, their families, and the nation.
The president also commended the Oyo State Government for its close cooperation with the federal government throughout the 56-day ordeal.
“I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” the president said.
Mr Tunubu also directed that emergency agencies work with the Oyo State Government to provide all necessary medical and relief support to the children and the teachers.
Mass abduction of students started in Nigeria in 2014 with the kidnapping of over 200 students from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
So far, more than 2,300 students and their teachers have been kidnapped since that year. However, the crisis is getting worse under President Tinubu.
Data compiled and analyzed by Premium Times shows that the mass school abduction crisis has worsened under President Tinubu.
Although his administration marked three years in office on 29 May, it has already recorded 13 mass school kidnapping incidents involving 674 students and staff, compared to three incidents involving at least 120 students during the first three years of his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
The difference shows an increase of about 461.7 per cent.
The Oyo incident happened around the same period as the abduction of 42 students from Mussa Primary and Secondary School in Borno State.
Barely a month after, terrorists abducted students preparing to sit the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. Although the military rescued some students, about 31 remain missing.
In all, about 77 Borno students remain in captivity.
Personal note: The Oyo State rescue cannot be swept under the carpet without mentioning Mr Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, one of the abductees, who was tragically and shockingly beheaded. His beheading was captured in a disturbing video released by the kidnappers.
According to The Realm News, 20 May, the names of the abducted principal and teachers are:
1 Mrs Alamu Folawe – Principal, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele
2 Mr Ojo Jonathan – Vice-Principal
3 Mr Olatunde Zacchaeus – Teacher
4 Mr John Olaleye – Teacher
5 Mr Michael Oyedokun – Teacher
6 Mrs Oladeji – Teacher
7 Mrs Mary Akanbi – Teacher, Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School
Pupils kidnapped and their ages –
From Ahoro-Esinele:
1 Rashida Tajudeen, 11
2 Ahmed Ramoni, 8
3 Abdulsalam Toyib, 4
4 Baraka Abioye, 16
5 Fatimo Jimoh, 15
6 Hassan Azeez, 14
7 Joshua Adeleke, 13
From Yawota:
8 Samuel Oyedele, 7
9 Emmanuel Oyedele, 4
10 Idowu Taiwo, 4
11 Christianah Akanbi, 2
12 Juwon Sunday, 7
13 Sikiru Salami, 4
14 Soliu Salami, 4
15 Ojo Joseph, 8
16 Lydia Adewole, 8
17 Testimony Jacob, 5
18 Kehinde Kaosara, 7
19 Sewa Seyi, 7
20 Waliya Bello, 4
21 Lydia Olohunloluwa, 7
22 Damilare Oderinde, 8
23 Deborah Adebowale, 5
24 Aisha Oguntowo, 10
25 Lege Taiwo, 12
26 Bilikis Ayanwale, 8
27 Asa David, 10
From Oniya:
28 Shuaibu Aliyu, 10
29 Ahmed Aliyu, 7
30 Muiz Aliyu, 5
31 Jomiloju Ogunlola, 6
From Alawusa:
32 Agune Noah, 8
33 Elizabeth Abadi, 5
34 Tosin Abadi, 9
35 Pius Stephen, 5
36 Hannah Ojo, 14
37 Habidat Ayanwale, 7
38 Mary Gabriel, 6
39 Jacob Gabriel ( age not specified)
