The Senate on Wednesday approved a N50 million donation to the families of five Nigerians killed during the May 15 attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Announcing the decision during plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said each of the five bereaved families would receive N10 million in recognition of the sacrifices made by the deceased. The announcement followed the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers after spending 56 days in captivity.
Akpabio described the deaths of the teachers and soldiers as a painful reminder of the human cost of Nigeria’s security challenges, while commending the Armed Forces and other security agencies for securing the victims’ release.
“The Senate has approved a donation of N50 million to families of five persons who lost their lives during the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State,” he said.
He added that the donation is intended to support the grieving families and honour those who paid the ultimate price during the rescue operation.
The beneficiaries are the families of teachers Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye, as well as Lieutenant F.A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome.
According to the principal of one of the affected schools, Oyedokun was beheaded by his captors while in captivity, while Olaleye was shot during the initial attack on the school. The three soldiers died during the military operation mounted to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers.
The presidency last week confirmed that all the kidnapped pupils and teachers had been rescued.
The victims were abducted after armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro Esiele/Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
