There was an outpouring of joy and gratitude in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Sunday as the husband of Mrs Rachael Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School who was recently rescued from kidnappers, broke into a joyful dance during a thanksgiving service to celebrate her safe return.
Professor Alamu, visibly overwhelmed with emotion, joined other worshippers in singing and dancing during the church service held to thank God for the release of his wife and the other victims who spent more than 50 days in captivity.
A video of the thanksgiving service, shared by Oyo Matters on Sunday, showed the professor dancing with members of the congregation as they repeatedly sang “Hallelujah” in appreciation for the successful rescue of the captives.
The atmosphere in the church reflected the relief felt by the family after weeks of anxiety and uncertainty following the abduction of Mrs Alamu and several pupils and teachers.
Mrs Alamu was among those kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The gunmen abducted pupils, teachers and school workers during the attack, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over insecurity in schools.
The incident drew national attention, with many Nigerians calling on security agencies and the government to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and improve security in schools across the country.
For more than 50 days, the abducted pupils and teachers remained in captivity while their families, community leaders and government officials waited anxiously for news of their fate.
The prolonged ordeal also raised fresh concerns about the safety of schools, especially in rural communities where security challenges have become increasingly common.
Relief finally came on Friday when the Federal Government announced that all the abducted victims had regained their freedom.
The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that security agencies successfully secured the release of the captives after weeks of coordinated operations.
Although officials did not immediately disclose details of the rescue operation, the development was widely welcomed across Oyo State and the country.
Families of the victims, religious leaders and community members expressed gratitude to the security agencies and prayed for the full recovery of those who had endured the traumatic experience.
Following their rescue, the pupils and teachers were taken to the Military Hospital in Ibadan, where they are receiving medical care, psychological counselling and other forms of support.
On Saturday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde visited the victims at the hospital to assess their condition and reassure them of the government’s commitment to their welfare.
The governor said the rescued victims would receive the necessary medical treatment and psychosocial support before returning to their families and normal life.
He also commended the efforts of the security agencies involved in securing their release and assured residents that the state government would continue working with federal authorities to strengthen security across Oyo State.
According to the state government, the rescued pupils and teachers are expected to be formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday before they are reunited with their families.
For the Alamu family, Sunday’s thanksgiving service marked one of their first public appearances since Mrs Alamu regained her freedom.
The emotional celebration drew friends, church members and well-wishers who joined the family in thanking God for what they described as a miraculous reunion.
The video of Professor Alamu dancing during the service quickly spread across social media, attracting widespread reactions from Nigerians.
Many users described the moment as touching, saying it reflected the pain families endure during kidnappings and the immense relief that comes when loved ones return home safely.
Others offered prayers for the victims as they begin the process of recovering from the physical and emotional effects of their captivity.
The abduction of the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers was one of the major security incidents recorded in the South-West this year.
Although the region has generally experienced fewer school kidnappings than parts of the North-West and North-Central, the incident raised fears that attacks on educational institutions could spread to other parts of the country.
In recent years, the Federal Government and state governments have introduced measures aimed at improving security around schools under the Safe Schools Initiative.
The program seeks to strengthen security infrastructure, improve emergency response and reduce the vulnerability of pupils, teachers and school workers to attacks.
Security experts have continued to stress the need for stronger intelligence gathering, closer collaboration between security agencies and local communities, and improved surveillance around schools, particularly those located in remote areas.
For the families of the rescued victims, however, the immediate concern is helping their loved ones recover from the difficult experience they endured in captivity.
As Mrs Alamu and the other rescued pupils and teachers prepare to reunite fully with their families, the thanksgiving service in Ogbomoso served as a powerful reminder of hope, faith and resilience after weeks of uncertainty.
The joyful celebration by Professor Alamu and members of his church captured the relief felt by many Nigerians who had followed the case closely and prayed for the safe return of all those abducted from Ahoro Esinle School.