Oyo Honours Civilians, Security Operatives Who Lost Their Lives During School Kidnap Rescue (Full List)

According to Ireporter Online, the state government described the deceased as heroes whose sacrifices would not be forgotten, while assuring their families of continued support and assistance.

In a tribute shared on its official X platform on Wednesday, the government expressed appreciation for the successful rescue of the abducted victims but noted that the development could not overshadow the painful loss of lives recorded during the incident.

The government extended its condolences to the families of those who died, promising to stand with them throughout their mourning period.

The statement read, “While we express gratitude for the safe return of the children and teachers abducted from Oriire LGA, we also wish to honour those who lost their lives.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We commit to supporting them during this difficult period. May their souls rest in peace.”

As part of the remembrance, the state government released an “In Memoriam” list containing the names of civilians and security personnel who reportedly died in connection with the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota abduction incident.

The civilians honoured were identified as Michael Oyedokun, John Olaleye, Joel Adesiyan and Oluwasegun Akanni.

Among the security personnel listed were Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Adigun Saibu, Isa Saliu and Rafiu Ayuba, while an unidentified soldier was also included among those who lost their lives.

The pupils and teachers were abducted on May 15 following coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area. They were later rescued after spending about 57 days in captivity in an operation conducted by security agencies.

The rescue brought relief to families and members of the affected communities who had spent weeks anxiously waiting for updates on the victims’ safety.

Reports indicated that two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and Esiyan Adegboye, were killed during the incident. While Adegboye’s remains were recovered and buried shortly after the attack, Oyedokun’s body had not been found at the time.

Oyedokun’s family had earlier appealed to President Bola Tinubu and relevant security authorities to intensify efforts toward recovering his remains for a proper burial.