A father in Yawota community has shared the painful reality his family is facing after his two-year-old son returned from 56 days in the hands of armed bandits.Sikiru Abiodun, a farmer, revealed that his young son is still suffering serious psychological trauma months after his release.
The little boy was among the 39 pupils and six teachers abducted on May 15, 2026, when bandits attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, L.A. Primary School, and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esienle, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The victims were finally released on July 10, 2026, after spending 56 days in captivity. They were taken to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital for medical checks and psychological assessment before being reunited with their families.
Speaking with newsmen who visited Yawota, Mr Abiodun described the changes he has noticed in his son since his return.“Before the abduction, if he wanted to sleep, he would just go and lie down by himself. But now, anytime he wants to sleep, he starts crying and will not stop until we hug or carry him,” he said in Yoruba.
He added that the boy now cries easily when shouted at, something that never happened before.“My son is showing some strange behaviours. He was not like this before,” Abiodun lamented.
Despite the trauma, the family is grateful their child came back alive.“We are just happy that he came back alive because we had lost hope of seeing him again,” the relieved father said.
The incident has left many families in Yawota and surrounding communities worried about the long-term effects of the abduction on the innocent children. Many parents are now calling on the government to provide proper counselling and support for the affected pupils and their families.
