The senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, has said only a small number of the victims rescued from the Oriire school abduction are likely to suffer long-term psychological trauma, expressing confidence that the younger children will recover because of their age.
Abdulfatai made the remark during an interview from 6:08 on Arise Prime Time on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, while discussing the condition of the schoolchildren and teachers rescued after spending 57 days in captivity.
Speaking on the emotional toll of the ordeal, the lawmaker acknowledged that psychological recovery would be one of the biggest challenges facing the victims after their physical rehabilitation. However, he maintained that the youngest children are unlikely to carry the experience with them for long.
According to him, his assessment is that the victims most likely to experience lasting trauma are a 10-year-old secondary school girl and the four teachers who were held alongside the children.
He explained that the toddlers, despite being exposed to harsh conditions during the period of captivity, are still at an age where they can recover emotionally, provided they receive proper care and are protected from situations that could revive painful memories.
The senator stressed that the immediate priority should be safeguarding the children’s health and ensuring they are supported throughout their recovery.
“I believe it’s only four or five of them who will carry that trauma: the ten-year-old girl in secondary school, and the four teachers. But the small ones, the toddlers, they’ll get over, they’re so small. The only important thing now is their health, and that nothing else happens to trigger memories of what happened….See More