Rescued pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire, Oyo State, after regaining their freedom following a 56-day captivity. Photo: X/@aonanuga1956
There was jubilation in Ogbomoso zone comprising five Local Government Areas of Oyo State, as over 40 abducted schoolchildren and their teachers regained their freedom on Friday.
Checks by PUNCH Online revealed that immediately after the news of the release of abductees broke out in the ancient city, residents alongside passersby and the travellers parked both their vehicles and motorcycles to rejoice with the affected families and the Federal and State Governments.
One of the residents, Akinkunmi Oyelade, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said, “I initially did not believe it, but when I saw scores of Okada riders and the travellers parking their vehicles and praising them, I then believed that the information was true.”
Another Ogbomoso indigene, Kemi Adeniyi, said, “If you ride a horse in me, you will not skip. I’m more than delighted with this great news. However, what happens to those who kept our family members for almost two months? Are they still alive? Or did the security operatives neutralise them? We need an update on that. They must not go unpunished. Or do both the Federal and State Governments want to give them amnesty like that of northerners? There shouldn’t be repentant Boko Haram o!” Related News NANS seeks counselling, scholarships for terrorism victims after Oyo rescue Oyo abduction: No ransom paid, no concession made – Tinubu Oyo avoided ‘quick-fix’ approach with bandits in release of abducted pupils – Commissioner
