The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed gratitude to God and applauded the Nigerian Government and security agencies for successfully securing the release of the schoolchildren, teachers, and other victims who were abducted in Oyo State.
In a statement dated July 12, 2026, and released to the press, CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh expressed gratitude to God for the safe rescue of the victims after 56 days in captivity.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) joins the people of Oyo State and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians in thanking Almighty God for the safe rescue of the pupils, teachers and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area after 56 difficult days in captivity.
“For the children who have returned, for the teachers who have been reunited with their families, and for parents whose tears have given way to joy, this is a day of profound gratitude. We give God all the glory for preserving their lives through an ordeal no child or teacher should ever experience,” Okoh noted.
Archbishop Okoh also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the National Security Adviser, and the security forces for their roles in bringing the painful episode to a successful conclusion.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh. Credit: Vanguard.
While applauding the government for the successful rescue, CAN urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of every Nigerian still being held captive by criminal and terrorist groups.
The association decried that “there are mothers and fathers in Borno, Niger and other parts of our country who will still go to bed praying that the next knock on the door will bring news that their own children are coming home.”
CAN further urged Nigerians to continue praying, support the nation’s security personnel, and stand in solidarity with families awaiting the safe return of their loved ones.
The association also stated, “Let us continue to pray, to support our security personnel, and to stand with every family that is waiting for the safe return of a loved one.”
Gunmen on 15 May 2026 abducted no fewer than 40 pupils, teachers, and other school personnel from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The affected schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School, and Community Grammar School.
The attackers were later identified as members of the Ansaru terrorist group. Two teachers were killed during the ordeal—one during the initial attack and another, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly executed in captivity in an attempt to pressure the government.
Following their rescue, the victims underwent 48 hours of medical evaluation, treatment, and psychological trauma counselling at Odogbo Barracks in Ibadan. On Monday, 13 July 2026, they were officially handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Secretariat.
Speaking to journalists after the handover, the visibly traumatised principal recounted the harrowing experience in captivity.
“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.” She attributed their survival to divine intervention and the prayers of Nigerians.
“We knew it was God that helped us. God really helped us. And the fact that we believed that people were praying for us really helped us. I cannot say it was anything other than God because sometimes things would go wrong and you would think that once you broke down that would be the end, but somehow you would survive it” she narrated.
Describing the treatment they endured, the principal said she was not physically assaulted but many of the children were.
“Personally, I was not beaten. Some of the children were beaten. You know children, some are quiet, while others are loud. What they hated most was noise because they believed it attracted attention.
“The youngest of them, maybe the two, Waliya and Sallam, received the worst beatings. They would cover their mouths with cloth and beat them severely. The men had it even worse than we did because they were blindfolded, handcuffed, and chained by the legs. That continued until only two of them remained,” she recounted.
When asked whether any of the female victims were sexually assaulted, the principal responded emphatically, “Sexual molestation? No. No.”
She also commented that the children were initially lured with biscuits to make them feel comfortable. Meanwhile, following the successful rescue of the Oyo victims, parents of schoolchildren abducted from Mussa town in Borno State on the same day on 15 May 2026 have appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of their children.
The Mussa schoolchildren were kidnapped on the same day as the Oyo victims and remain in captivity.
Editor’s Note: Featured photo is courtesy of The Nation.
