Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has called on the Federal and state governments to prioritise psychological rehabilitation and trauma counselling for the 39 pupils and teachers recently rescued from captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that their recovery must extend beyond physical freedom. Speaking during Tuesday's Senate plenary while contributing to a motion on the successful rescue operation, Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that survivors of kidnapping often carry emotional and psychological scars long after regaining their freedom, requiring professional intervention to successfully reintegrate into their families, schools and communities. Her appeal came as 31 of the rescued victims were discharged from the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, while eight others, including one child diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, remained under medical observation.
The victims, comprising pupils from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School, were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked the three schools in a coordinated operation that sent shockwaves across Oyo State and the nation. They spent 56 days in captivity before regaining their freedom on July 10, 2026, following a coordinated intelligence-driven military operation that also led to the arrest of eight suspected terrorists and the neutralisation of several others. Two teachers lost their lives during the period of captivity, including one who paid the ultimate price while in the hands of the abductors.
Addressing her colleagues in the red chamber, Akpoti-Uduaghan commended President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces and all security agencies for their courage, professionalism and sacrifice in securing the victims' release. "I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and steadfast commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers," she said. "I also appreciate the Nigerian Armed Forces and all the security agencies whose courage, professionalism and sacrifice made this successful operation possible". She congratulated the rescued pupils, teachers and their families, describing their safe return as "a great relief to the nation and a testament to the resilience of the victims and the dedication of our security personnel".
However, the senator emphasised that the successful rescue should not mark the end of government support for the victims, noting that survivors of abduction often require long-term mental health intervention to overcome the trauma of their ordeal. "I call on the Federal Government and state governments, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to ensure the provision of psychological support, trauma counselling and rehabilitation for the rescued victims to facilitate their full recovery from the psychological effects of the kidnapping," she stated. She noted that professional counselling and coordinated rehabilitation would help the victims successfully reintegrate into their families, schools and communities, and stressed that emotional recovery should be treated with the same urgency as their physical wellbeing.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also paid tribute to the teacher who died during the captivity, extending condolences to his family and praying for the peaceful repose of his soul. "While we celebrate the successful rescue of the victims, we must not forget the teacher who paid the ultimate price," she said. The Senate subsequently adopted the motion, which was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and co-sponsored by all other senators, commending President Tinubu, the Armed Forces and other security agencies for the successful rescue operation. The upper chamber also paid tribute to three security personnel who lost their lives during the mission—Lieutenant F. A. Isaac of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa of the 81 Battalion, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome of the Nigeria Police Force—and observed a minute's silence in their honour.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to sustain and intensify military and intelligence operations against terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements, while calling for improved welfare, equipment, training and operational capacity for security personnel. Lawmakers also called for the prompt payment of death benefits and other entitlements to the families of officers who died during the rescue mission. In a separate development, the Senate asked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to withdraw his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole describing the demand as "not statesmanly" and urging the governor to stop "trivialising" the rescue operation. The upper chamber argued that such a move could undermine Nigeria's sovereignty and the sacrifices made by security personnel involved in the rescue operation.
The abduction and subsequent rescue of the Ogbomoso schoolchildren has reignited national debate over the safety of educational institutions and the government's capacity to protect citizens from the scourge of kidnapping. The successful rescue operation, which restored hope among parents and school communities, demonstrated the growing operational effectiveness and professionalism of the nation's security agencies. However, as Akpoti-Uduaghan and other stakeholders have emphasised, the physical rescue of the victims is only the first step in a longer journey toward healing and recovery. For the 39 pupils and teachers who endured 56 days of captivity, the psychological scars of their ordeal may linger long after their physical wounds have healed, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support and rehabilitation programmes that address the invisible wounds of trauma.
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