44 children and teachers rescued in Nigeria

In good news from Nigeria, 44 children and teachers have been rescued from captivity. Please pray for them as they’re reunited with their loved ones, and for the wider issue of kidnapping in Nigeria.

Praise God that all 44 children and teachers who were kidnapped from their schools in May have been freed.

The victims were taken on 15 May from three schools in the district of Osiire, Oyo State: Baptist Nursery and Primary School, LA Primary School and Community Grammar School. They are predominantly Christian, but it’s unconfirmed whether all hostages are Christian or not. One teacher was killed when the incident happened.

Families await reunion

The children and teachers were rescued by the Nigerian army over the weekend. Currently, they are believed to be under observation of the military in an undisclosed hospital and have not yet been reunited with their families.

Governor Seyi Makinde visited the victims on Saturday and said the military will officially transfer them to the government after an assessment is completed after 48 hours medical observation. The process to reunite them with their families is being planned.

“We are putting logistics together to at least bring the family members to come and see them,” Makinde said. “There’s a small girl in there who basically has been asking, ‘Where’s my mum? Where’s my mum?’ So, at least we want the mum to be able to come and then see her.”

According to a source speaking to Punch, ‘Prof. Alamu, husband of the principal of Ahoro Esinle School, Mrs Rachael Alamu, arrived in Ibadan on Sunday night, apparently in anticipation of seeing his wife after her release.’

The rescue operation lasted a month and involved targeting the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park, which is one of several sprawling areas used by criminal gangs and extremist groups. Several suspects were arrested; however, some military personnel were killed.

Spilling south

Whilst kidnappings are common in Nigeria, one reason this incident drew particular attention is because Oyo state is in the predominantly Christian south, not the north and Middle Belt where they typically occur. It reflects the rising tide of violence facing Christians in the country – and why the world needs to talk about it.

And in a further reminder of this endemic issue in Nigeria, on the day these children and teachers were taken in May, other young children were kidnapped from their school in Asskira Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, with the youngest victim not yet two years’ old. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Whilst we give thanks for this positive development, please pray for those still held and for this wider problem in Nigeria.