Weeks after enduring one of the most traumatic school abductions in recent times, the pupils and teachers rescued from captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, security agencies and Nigerians for their efforts in securing their freedom.
In an emotional video released after their rescue, one of the freed teachers, who spoke on behalf of the victims, thanked the President for ensuring that they were not forgotten during their weeks in captivity. Fighting back tears, she said, “Thank you, Mr President. God bless you. Thank you for not abandoning us. We are back home safely, and we appreciate everything you have done for us.” Her remarks reflected the relief of the rescued victims, whose return ended weeks of anxiety for their families and school communities.
The teacher also acknowledged the role played by security agencies and Nigerians who continually prayed for their release, saying the victims remained hopeful because they believed many people had not stopped advocating for their freedom. According to her, “We also thank everyone who prayed for us. We know many Nigerians were praying day and night for our release. God answered those prayers, and today we are alive because of His mercy and the efforts of everyone involved.”
The emotional message marked a dramatic contrast to the desperate appeals the victims made while they were still in captivity. In one of the videos that circulated during the ordeal, the same teacher had made a passionate plea to President Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and other well-meaning Nigerians, saying the captives were facing harsh conditions in the forest. She had appealed, “Please help us. We are under the rain, under the sun and in the cold. The children are suffering. Please don’t forget us here. Please save us.”
The rescue of the victims has brought an end to weeks of uncertainty following the attack on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School, Esiele; and Community Grammar School, Esiele, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. During the coordinated attack, 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted, throwing the affected communities into mourning and raising fresh concerns over insecurity in Nigerian schools.
The incident quickly attracted national attention, with parents, teachers, education advocates and civil society organisations demanding immediate government intervention. The prolonged captivity of the victims also prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State to embark on a strike, insisting that teachers could not safely return to classrooms while their colleagues and pupils remained in the hands of kidnappers.
Throughout the rescue efforts, President Tinubu repeatedly assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not relent until every abducted child and teacher regained freedom. Condemning the attack, the President declared that “No child should be taken from the safety of a classroom. No parent should have to endure this anguish,” while promising that security agencies would deploy every lawful and intelligence-driven strategy to rescue the victims.
Governor Makinde also maintained that the state government was committed to securing the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers. While appealing for patience from the public, he assured residents that the operation was being handled carefully to avoid putting the lives of the children at greater risk, stressing that “I don’t want to lose any of those children. By God’s grace, we will bring them out safely.”
Although the successful rescue has been widely celebrated, the tragedy claimed the lives of two educators. Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan was killed during the initial attack, while mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was later murdered by the abductors, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for improved protection of schools and education workers.
Education stakeholders have described the victims’ return as a welcome development but stressed that it should serve as a wake-up call for governments at all levels to strengthen school security. They argued that beyond celebrating the successful rescue, authorities must intensify the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative through improved surveillance, community intelligence, rapid emergency response systems and increased deployment of security personnel to vulnerable schools.
They also recommended that the rescued pupils and teachers receive adequate psychosocial support and trauma counselling to aid their recovery and reintegration into school life after weeks of physical and emotional hardship.
For many Nigerians, however, the most memorable moment following the rescue was the heartfelt appreciation expressed by the freed teacher. Her words, “Thank you, Mr President. Thank you for not abandoning us,” have come to symbolise the relief of the rescued victims and the hope that no Nigerian child or teacher will again have to endure such an ordeal simply for going to school.
