Health
Monitor rescued Oyo pupils’ mental health for one year, psychiatrists urge FG
Psychiatrists have urged the Federal and Oyo State Governments to monitor the mental health of the schoolchildren and teachers rescued after being abducted by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of the state for at least one year.
The mental health experts said that beyond immediate crisis intervention, the rescued pupils should undergo comprehensive psychological assessments and receive continuous mental health care for the next 365 days.
According to them, long-term follow-up is crucial because children who survive traumatic experiences such as kidnapping are at risk of developing a range of mental health conditions.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, the psychiatrists said these conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and behavioural changes, some of which may not become apparent until weeks or months after the traumatic event.
The experts warned that the psychological effects of abduction may persist long after the pupils’ release, adding that sustained follow-up care is essential to identifying these conditions and providing timely interventions.
The experts made the recommendations after the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
On May 15, 2026, PUNCH Healthwise reported that terrorists struck three schools in the LG, killing a teacher and abducting pupils and teachers. The schools are Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community Grammar School, Esiele.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were abducted during the attacks. One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded the following day by the terrorists in a bid to deter security operatives pursuing them.
After their release, a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Tinuola Gunwa-Ajayi, told PUNCH Healthwise that spending 56 days in captivity would have profound psychological effects on the children.
The psychiatrist urged the governments to provide comprehensive psychosocial support involving mental health professionals, teachers, and parents to aid the pupils’ recovery.
Gunwa-Ajayi, who is also a professor of psychiatry, stressed that continuous monitoring is critical to helping the children reduce the risk of long-term psychological complications.
Aside from continuous monitoring, she said a supportive school and home environment are critical to helping the children regain emotional stability and resume normal activities.
Gunwa-Ajayi said, “The priority right now should be providing comprehensive medical and psychological assessments for every released child. The government should fund long-term mental health services for the children rather than just immediate crisis support.
“This is not a one-off situation. This should be a long-term process. There should be continuous follow-up for at least one year. The follow-up could begin with weekly assessments. If the child is doing well, it can progress to every two weeks, then monthly, then every two months, every three months, until they have been followed for at least one year.
“The follow-up should not involve only medical practitioners. It should also include mental health professionals, social services, teachers, and schools. It should be holistic support and holistic care. The government should also train teachers and healthcare workers in trauma-informed care. ”
Corroborating her, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Samuel Aladejare, said the freed pupils need both physical and mental health assessment.
“The most important thing initially is to conduct a comprehensive physical and medical assessment. They need a general medical examination, investigations where necessary, and appropriate treatment.
“There is also a need for multidisciplinary care at this stage because the priority is to stabilise their physical health. They have to be physically well before they can fully benefit from psychological treatment or interventions.”
According to him, once those immediate physical needs have been addressed, they can then focus on the psychological interventions they require.
“The psychological response will depend on each individual,” he said.
Stomach, headaches may signal trauma
The mental health specialists also urged parents to watch out for frequent complaints of stomach aches, headaches, and nightmares from the pupils, saying such may be signals of trauma from the freed children.
They explained that parents also need to understand that, unlike adults, children do not always express trauma verbally.
Gunwa-Ajayi said, “Trauma often presents very differently in children. One sign is increased tantrums or aggression. Another very common response is regression, where these children may return to behaviours they had previously outgrown.
“For example, a child who had stopped bedwetting may begin wetting the bed again. They may start sucking their thumb again. They may even begin speaking in baby talk. All of these are recognised trauma responses.
“Some children may complain of physical symptoms without any identifiable medical cause. Some may complain of headaches. However, stomach aches remain one of the most common physical manifestations of anxiety in children. Parents should therefore pay close attention to these complaints.”
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