Rescued Oyo pupils to reunite with families today

There is immense tension, anticipation, and emotional relief across Oyo State today, Monday, July 13, 2026, as the 44 pupils and teachers rescued from Ansaru terrorists complete their mandatory 48-hour clinical and psychiatric evaluation ahead of a slated handover to the state government.

The survivors, who spent 56 gruelling days inside the deep forest networks of the Old Oyo National Park, have been undergoing intensive trauma therapy and physical rehabilitation at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army Medical Services inside Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who personally visited the medical centre over the weekend, confirmed that the military high command would perform a final comprehensive triage assessment this morning before formally transferring operational care of the victims to state social workers, allowing the long-awaited reunions with their families to commence.

Anxious families converge on Ibadan

Throughout Sunday, emotional scenes of intense thanksgiving dominated religious institutions across Ogbomoso, the home region of the abducted students.

In a viral video that captured the national imagination, Professor Wole Alamu—the husband of the Principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Mrs Rachael Alamu—broke into a joyful, tearful praise dance during a special service, celebrating the miraculous survival of his wife.

Intelligence reports confirmed that Prof. Alamu arrived in Ibadan late Sunday night, joining dozens of desperate parents waiting just outside the military barracks’ perimeter.

“We are putting logistics together to at least bring the family members to come and see them,” Governor Makinde stated, detailing the human toll of the crisis. “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 see her.”

Despite the planned timeline, the Oyo State Ministry of Information warned that the schedule remains fluid due to strict military protocols. 

Speaking late Sunday night, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, urged patience: “We are hopeful that the military will formally hand them over to the state tomorrow. That is what we were told. But the military is in charge.”

The stick-wielding police: Monarchs blow the whistle

While celebrations continue, a major security scandal is brewing in the state. Traditional rulers within the Oriire Local Government Area have fiercely hit back at the government, asserting that the multi-school invasion on May 15 was an inevitable tragedy caused by the total abandonment of rural security infrastructure.

In shocking separate palace interviews, the Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, and the Elesinele of Esinele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, revealed that the massive Oriire Local Government Area—which spans over 740 distinct agricultural villages—is shockingly policed by just a single functional Divisional Police Headquarters.

Worse still, the monarchs revealed that the local police outpost situated near Pamo does not possess a single operational firearm.

“The police post located about six kilometres from the palace has no rifle. The officers attached to the post are routinely seen carrying wooden sticks as they carry out their duties,” the royal fathers revealed, issuing a direct emergency appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to immediately upgrade the outpost into a fully armed, operational Divisional Headquarters.

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