Videos from the reunions shot by our correspondent captured emotional scenes as parents embraced their children in tears after weeks of uncertainty following 56 days in terrorists’ captivity.
In one of the videos, officials called out the names of the rescued children one after another as family members waited anxiously to receive them.
Names including Testimony, Aliyu Ahmed, Abati Elizabeth and Adeleke Joshua were announced before relatives stepped forward amid tears, prayers and jubilation.
Some parents wept openly, while others offered prayers of thanksgiving as they embraced their children.
One mother, reunited with her child, Testimony, expressed gratitude to God and those involved in the rescue operation.
“I give thanks! My merciful God, I give thanks. I never knew my child, Testimony, would return to me alive. Ah! What am I that You love me so much?
“Our President Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the police, the army—may God be with them all—as well as the pastors and every single person who fasted and prayed for my Testimony who was lost in the forest. Lord, I thank you. I thank you so, so much,” she said.
Hospital personnel were also seen coordinating the discharge process and assisting families as they prepared to leave with the rescued victims.
Watch the video below:
The reunions came a day after the rescued pupils and teachers were formally received by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House in Ibadan.
Speaking on Monday, the principal of Community High School, Oriire, Mrs Rachael Alamu, recounted the ordeal in captivity, saying the abductors deliberately killed two teachers in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
“There were times when we had hope that we would all come out alive. The terrorists killed Mr Michael, the first teacher, on the second day of our abduction, and Deacon, the second teacher, was killed on the first Sunday of June.
“They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the hand of the government to provide them whatever they wanted. They already knew that the whole world was interested in our case. We have scars already, and we believe that God will heal us. We appreciate everyone who contributed to this success,” she said.
Alamu said the victims spent most of the 56 days in the open forest under harsh weather conditions while trying to keep the children alive and emotionally stable.
“You can only imagine it. It was not easy. We were in the forest, in the open, most of the time, under the sun and under the rain, with the children. But we kept going because there was no way out.
“We knew it was only God Who could help us, and we believed people were praying for us. That kept us going,” she added.
The Federal Government announced on Friday that security agencies had successfully rescued all the abducted pupils and teachers after more than 50 days in captivity during an intelligence-led operation.
The victims had since been receiving medical care and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan before reuniting with their families.
