We’ve taken over rescued teachers, pupils’ welfare – Makinde

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde assured that the government will fully support the released Oriire teachers and pupils, who were held captive for 56 days. The state has taken over their welfare, promising medical, psychological, and logistical aid to help them stabilize.

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On behalf of the government and the good people of Oyo State, I want to sincerely thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the support given to ensure the success of this operation. I also appreciate the leadership of all the security agencies in Nigeria.

Makinde stated this as the military formally handed over the victims to the Oyo State Government in Ibadan. He emphasized that the government would prevent any disruption to the careers of the teachers and the education of the pupils, regardless of the school not being government-owned. The governor also noted that the victims would remain under medical observation for another 24 to 48 hours before being reunited with their families.

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Quite frankly, I am still overwhelmed because incidents like this have happened in different parts of the country, but when it happened in Oyo State, the response was different. All the security agencies worked together with one goal, to secure the safe return of the teachers and the pupils.

The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of Nigeria's security agencies for their crucial role in coordinating the successful rescue operation. He highlighted the collaborative effort of all security agencies, noting the distinct and effective response when the incident occurred in Oyo State. Makinde prayed that such an incident would not happen again in the state.

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I want to assure you that although the Baptist school involved is not a government-owned school, we will engage with its management to determine the best way forward. Let me assure both the teachers and the pupils from that school that the Oyo State Government will do everything possible to ensure there is no disruption to your careers as teachers and no interruption to the education of the affected pupils.