•Oriire kidnap victims
Two hundred and eighty-four serving and retired academic staff of the University of Ibadan (UI) have donated N6 million to support rehabilitation and reintegration of pupils, teachers, and other victims rescued in captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The donors said the fund was intended to complement ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the victims and assist them in rebuilding their lives after the traumatic experience, reports The Nation.
The donation was presented by the UI Ad Hoc Committee on Support for the Victims, led by Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, during a ceremony at the Ogbomoso Zonal Office of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission.
Recall that the 44 victims, including teachers and pupils, were rescued by a joint security operation after they were abducted and held captive for 56 days by their abductors.
Speaking during the presentation, Prof. Ayoola said that part of the support would also benefit widows and relatives of those who lost their lives during the incident, including a Mathematics teacher, Oyedokun.
According to him, although the victims had regained their freedom, many continued to suffer psychological trauma that would require sustained care and support.
“Our gathering today is both sombre and celebratory. It reminds us of the insecurity confronting our nation, but it also celebrates the resilience of those who survived this terrible ordeal,” he said.
Ayoola described the victims’ experience in captivity inside the Old Oyo National Park forest as unimaginable, particularly for the schoolchildren who endured the prolonged ordeal.
He commended the coordinated rescue operation carried out by security agencies, including the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Navy Special Forces; Nigerian Air Force Special Forces; Nigeria Police Force; Department of State Services (DSS); National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA); National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC); and local vigilantes.
He also acknowledged the intervention of the Nigerian Senate, which announced financial support for bereaved families and security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue mission.
Ayoola appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to support the rehabilitation of the victims, noting that additional resources would be required to aid their full recovery.
He also stressed that tackling insecurity should not be left to government alone, urging citizens to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies and strengthen community-based security initiatives.
The Inspector-General of Education, Ogbomoso Zone, Mr. Olubunmi Biodun Adisa, described the donation as a demonstration of the social responsibility of the academic community.
“The academic staff of the University of Ibadan have redefined the relationship between the town and the gown. You have set another pace in humanitarian service. With this gesture, there is hope for Nigeria,” he said.
The donation was formally presented to the rescued teachers, pupils and widows of the slain victims by Prof. Adenike Emeke, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, and Prof. Aina Adeogun.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Prof. Babalola said the university community shared in their pain and rejoiced over their safe return.
“We are standing with you to let you know that you are not alone. We are happy to celebrate with you and rejoice over your safe return,” she said.
Prof. Emeke described the donation as a demonstration of compassion by members of the academic community, while Prof. Adeogun commended the resilience displayed by the school principal and teachers throughout the ordeal.
“We thank God for preserving your lives. We also appreciate the principal for standing as both a mother and a father during the difficult period,” he said.
Some of the rescued teachers and pupils also recounted their experiences in captivity and expressed gratitude to the donors for their support.
The school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, thanked the University of Ibadan scholars for the gesture and their solidarity with the victims.
Leader of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Oriire Local Government Area, Saka Waheed Aribidesi, disclosed that two members of the group lost their lives during the rescue operation.
A parent of one of the rescued pupils, Abiodun Sikiru, also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the University of Ibadan academics and other stakeholders for supporting the affected families, describing the intervention as a source of hope.
