Rescued pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State may reunite with their families today (Monday) following their anticipated formal handover by the military to the Oyo State Government after 48 hours of medical observation.

The victims, who regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity, have been receiving medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who visited the victims on Saturday, had disclosed that they would remain under medical observation for 48 hours before being formally handed over to the state government.

He said, “Our plan right now is to watch them over the next 48 hours. So by Monday, we think an assessment will be done, and maybe there’ll be a formal transfer from the military to the state, and then we can manage the process from that point forward.”

Makinde also disclosed that arrangements had already begun to reunite the rescued victims with their families, revealing that some of the children had repeatedly asked to see their parents after regaining freedom.

“But also today, we are putting logistics together to at least bring the family members to come and see them. There’s a small girl in there who basically has been asking, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’ So, at least we want the mom to be able to come and then see her,” he added.

In Ogbomoso, on Sunday, some parents of the victims, including Deborah Oyesola, Adesola Akano, and Prof Wole Alamu, took to religious houses while indicating that they were anxiously awaiting the military’s formal handover of the victims to the state government.

A source also confirmed that Prof Alamu, husband of the principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, arrived in Ibadan on Sunday night, apparently in anticipation of seeing his wife after her release.

The expected reunion comes barely two days after the Federal Government announced the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers who were kidnapped when heavily armed gunmen invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.

The victims are expected to be formally handed over by the military to the Oyo State Government after completing medical evaluation and psychosocial support at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.

The anticipated handover is expected to pave the way for their reunion with family members before the state government begins the next phase of rehabilitation and reintegration.

However, there was still an air of uncertainty about the Monday meeting, noting that the decision on the victims’ handover was all in the hands of the military.

The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, told The PUNCH that the state was hopeful the military would complete the handover on Monday.

“We are hopeful that the military will formally hand them over to the state tomorrow (Monday). That is what we were told. But the military is in charge,” he said.

Although he expressed optimism that the process would be completed as scheduled, security sources and some government officials said the situation remained fluid.

They explained that while preparations for the formal transfer had been concluded, operational considerations could still alter the timetable at the last minute.

There were scenes of thanksgiving in churches in Ogbomoso on Sunday as families thanked God for the rescue of their loved ones.

The husband of the principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Prof Alamu, broke into a joyful dance during a thanksgiving service held in Ogbomoso on Sunday.

A video shared on Sunday showed the don dancing with other worshippers as they sang songs of praise and thanksgiving, celebrating the safe return of his wife and the other victims after nearly two months in captivity.

The thanksgiving service marked one of the family’s first public celebrations following Mrs Alamu’s release.

The emotional video attracted widespread reactions from Nigerians, many of whom expressed gratitude to God and relief that the victims had returned alive.

Parents of the rescued pupils also expressed excitement over the development, saying they eagerly looked forward to embracing their children after weeks of uncertainty and anguish.

The development came as the Oyo State Government disclosed its readiness to partner with the Federal Government to secure and restore the Old Oyo National Park, while traditional rulers and residents renewed calls for a stronger security presence in Oriire, saying the abduction exposed glaring security gaps in the council.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the state was ready to partner with the Federal Government in securing and restoring the Old Oyo National Park.

He said the state was prepared to undertake interventions aimed at protecting the national heritage and enhancing security around the expansive forest.

According to him, the Makinde administration had consistently complemented Federal Government efforts through strategic investments in critical infrastructure across the state.

According to him, since the inception of the administration over seven years ago, the state has executed several federal infrastructure projects despite receiving no financial mobilisation or reimbursement from the Federal Government.

Among the projects listed were the dualisation of the 9.7-kilometre Saki Township Road along the Oke Ogun Polytechnic-Ilesa Baruba Road, the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the 34.85-kilometre Oyo-Iseyin Road, and the construction of the 5.5-kilometre Adegbayi Junction-Bus Terminal-Iwo Road Interchange.

He added that work was also ongoing on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Iwo Road-Olodo Bank Bridge-Elesin Godogo-Lalupon-Iyana Offa-Oyo/Osun Boundary Road.

Building on this record, Oyelade said the state government was prepared to extend a similar intervention to the Old Oyo National Park.

According to him, the park was a natural candidate for state intervention because of its historical, cultural and economic significance.

He stressed that the government’s interest in the park was motivated by “the need to protect a national heritage, unlock its tourism potential and enhance economic development across the state.”

The commissioner said, “Beyond politics and every other consideration, the Makinde administration remains ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the park is restored and repositioned for the benefit of Oyo State, Nigeria and future generations.”

He added that the Oyo State Government would continue to partner with the Federal Government wherever necessary, placing the welfare of the people and sustainable development above every other consideration.

Speaking in the same vein, the governor’s spokesperson, Olanrewaju, said the state had consistently carried out clearing operations around the forest to deny criminals a haven.

“It is going to be continuous. We will ensure continuous clearing and surveillance,” he said.

The renewed focus on the park came as traditional rulers in Oriire Local Government insisted that the kidnapping of the pupils and teachers had exposed the fragile security architecture in the area.

Following the successful rescue of the victims, the Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, and the Elesinele of Esinele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to upgrade the only Police Post in Pamo to a full-fledged Divisional Police Headquarters.

The monarchs, who spoke separately with The PUNCH in their palaces, said such a move had become imperative to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy that threw Oriire Local Government and neighbouring communities into fear for nearly two months.

They argued that Oriire Local Government Area, comprising about 740 villages, is currently served by only one divisional police headquarters.

They further revealed that the Police Post located about six kilometres from the palace of the Elerepamo had no rifle, while officers attached to the post were seen carrying sticks as they carried out their duties.

The monarchs said the situation had left residents vulnerable to attacks by kidnappers and other criminal elements.

Speaking on the development, Oba Ogunmakinde said the Oriire kidnapping exposed the enormous security challenges confronting the council.

“The day terrorists kidnapped the pupils and teachers was a very terrifying day for us in Oriire. All the towns in Oriire were scared, even across the Ogbomoso zone, because we had never experienced such before.

“We realised that there is no adequate security in Oriire. We have about 740 villages, yet we have only one police division covering a very large area. Oriire starts from Ipepa to Igbeti, and it is one of the largest local governments in Oyo State,” he said.

Ogunmakinde described Pamo as one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland with historical ties to the old Oyo Empire, saying the community had made deliberate efforts to strengthen security by providing facilities for a police post.

According to him, although the Nigeria Police Force approved the establishment of the post and deployed officers to the community, the facility has remained grossly under-equipped and requires an upgrade to a divisional headquarters.

He said, “When I became the king, we made arrangements to build a police post here. The Nigeria Police Force approved it and gave us 12 policemen, but we want the government to help us make it a division. That will enhance security in this area and make our people feel safer.”

The monarch lamented that the abduction had taken a heavy toll on education in the council, saying many parents had refused to allow their children to return to school despite the successful rescue of the victims.

“Since the kidnapping happened, no child has gone back to school in some areas because they are afraid. They said they cannot go unless there are policemen to assure them of security,” he stated.

Oba Ogunmakinde disclosed that many residents fled their communities in the aftermath of the attack, saying fear gripped the entire local government for weeks.

He said, “I did not sleep in the town for about two weeks after the incident because of the situation, but I had to return because I cannot abandon my people.

“Some people ran away, while some stayed because their means of survival are here. Those who left later returned after assurances from the federal, state and local governments on improved security.

“I am now calling on the Federal Government through President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to please, as a matter of urgency, upgrade the only existing police post in Pamo to a full-fledged Divisional Police Headquarters.”

The traditional ruler also advocated stronger collaboration between conventional security agencies and local security outfits, stressing that community efforts alone could not effectively tackle the growing insecurity in the area.

Corroborating his position, the Elesinele of Esinele, Oba Abioye, thanked God for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers and urged residents to remain vigilant.

He appealed to members of the public to promptly report suspicious movements and strangers to security agencies.

“We thank God that the victims were rescued. We should continue to work together to secure our land. If anyone sees a stranger or anything suspicious, it should be reported so that the necessary authorities can act,” he said.

The monarch said although the community experienced widespread fear and anxiety throughout the 56-day ordeal, it was spared direct attacks.

He also dismissed reports that one of the community’s indigenes had been arrested as an informant for the kidnappers.