Oriire abductees’ relatives gather at LAUTECH for reunion
By Adejayan Gbenga
Parents and relatives of Oriire pupils and teachers rescued from captivity in Oyo State thronged the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, on Tuesday, anxiously awaiting reunion with their loved ones after nearly two months of separation.
The rescued victims were taken to the hospital for comprehensive medical examinations, trauma assessments and psychological counselling following their release from captivity. Family members remained at the facility as healthcare workers carried out evaluations before the victims could be formally reunited with their relatives.
The victims comprise 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a school principal, who were abducted on May 15, 2026, when gunmen suspected to be members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
According to security authorities, the attackers simultaneously invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, abducting pupils and members of staff in the coordinated assault that sparked widespread outrage across the state.
Following the abduction, security agencies launched an extensive rescue operation involving the military, police and intelligence units, while the state government intensified efforts to ensure the victims’ safe return and reassure anxious families. The pupils and teachers eventually regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, 2026, after the successful operation.
The Presidency disclosed that several terrorists involved in the abduction were killed during the mission, while eight others were arrested. In addition, the Federal Government maintained that no ransom was paid and no prisoner exchange was conducted to secure the victims’ release, describing the outcome as the result of sustained security operations and coordinated intelligence.
Earlier on Monday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde formally received the rescued pupils and teachers, describing their return as a moment of relief for the state and the affected families. The victims are expected to continue receiving medical care and psychological support at the hospital before completing their reunion with family members.
