Following their release from the kidnappers’ den, the students and teachers of the Apostolic Faith Groups of School in Emure-Ekiti, Emure local government area, have been hospitalized.
The freed victims comprise five pupils and three teachers who were released by their abductors in the early hours of Sunday, February 4.
They are currently receiving medical care at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Oyebanji Filani, along with ministry officials, brought the students and teachers from Emure Ekiti to the hospital following the governor’s directive shortly after their release.
In a chat with newsmen, the EKSUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Kayode Kayode Olabanji, said medical examinations have commenced on the eight victims to ascertain their health condition.
Prof. Olabanji said the school children and their teachers are undergoing medical and therapeutic treatment to relieve them of the psychological trauma of the kidnapping experience.
He added that the five pupils and their three teachers were clinically in stable condition, saying that they were being attended to by a multidisciplinary team of medical personnel.
He said, “Immediately we brought them in; they had been attended to by a multi-disciplinary team of medical personnel.
“We brought in those psychologists who could work on them to allay their fears. They were given the initial resuscitation, including rehydration; they were given fluids; and some who needed oxygen were given oxygen. After they had stabilized a bit, they were even given food. Now that they are much better, we will still carry out a few investigations to fully assess their situation.
“But I can say with confidence that they are clinically stable, and we don’t foresee any untoward eventuality.”
Governor Oyebanji, who arrived at EKSUTH few hours later to see the eight victims who were receiving treatment shortly after his return from Abuja, had a brief interaction with each of the victims at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital.
While congratulating the students and their teachers for regaining freedom from the abductors, Oyebanji assured that the perpetrators of the crime would be fished out and punished accordingly.
He urged the medical team at the hospital not to be in a hurry to discharge the students, stressing the need for them to be properly managed, given the trauma they went through.
Expressing his condolences over the death of the bus driver of the abducted pupils, Taiwo Olugbaye who was reportedly killed by the kidnappers, the governor said the government will not leave any stone unturned in the bid to apprehend the criminals as well as those involved in the killing of two traditional rulers in the state.
He said, “It is very sad. My condolences to the family. I have directed the Deputy Governor to pay a visit to the family and to the Elemure to commiserate with them. But what I can assure the Ekiti people is that we will go after the criminals.”
