By Ado Oyeyemi
Despite the rescue of over 40 pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, several schools in the affected communities remain closed as parents continue to keep their children at home over security concerns.
Findings showed that while academic activities have resumed in communities such as Ahoro Dada and Ikoyi Ile, schools in Pamo, Yawota and Ahoro Esienle were still under lock and key one week after the victims regained their freedom.
The latest development came as eight additional victims of the May 15 abduction were discharged from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, after being certified medically fit.
The discharged victims, comprising schoolchildren and a teacher, were reunited with their families, leaving only one pupil, who is receiving treatment for a congenital heart condition, on admission.
The victims were rescued on July 10 after spending 56 days in captivity during a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, local vigilantes, hunters and other security personnel.
The abduction had prompted the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers to embark on an industrial action, demanding improved security around schools.
The strike was suspended on July 1 after the union reviewed the government’s security measures.
However, residents of some affected communities say fear continues to prevent pupils and teachers from returning to the classroom.
The traditional ruler of Pamo, the Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, said many parents remained traumatised by the incident and had resolved not to send their children back to school until security was strengthened.
He appealed to the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to upgrade the existing police outpost in the community to a divisional police headquarters to improve security.
According to the monarch, the community had repeatedly requested a full police division, stressing that enhanced security was necessary to restore confidence among residents and ensure children could safely return to school.
A parent, identified simply as Alhaja Arowolo, also said her children had not resumed classes, explaining that many families were unwilling to take any risks despite their children not being among those abducted.
Similarly, a teacher with the State Universal Basic Education Board, who requested anonymity, said she was reluctant to return to the affected school because of persistent security fears.
She recalled that shortly after teachers resumed following the suspension of the strike, panic erupted when a resident raised an alarm that a child could not be found on a farm, reinforcing concerns about safety in the area.
Meanwhile, a hospital source confirmed that the discharge of the rescued victims had been carried out gradually based on their medical condition.
The source disclosed that all the remaining pupils and a teacher who had been receiving treatment had now been discharged, except for one child diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, who is still under medical care.
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The Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, had earlier disclosed that the rescued victims were being discharged in phases after medical evaluation confirmed they were fit to return home.
