A teacher at Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has revealed that academic activities have resumed following the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers, but fear still hangs over the school because of the lack of visible security.
Speaking in an interview with TVC, the teacher said the school reopened after the victims regained their freedom, but many teachers remain traumatised by the incident.
He recalled that immediately after the abduction, only about half of the students returned to school, as many parents kept their children at home over safety concerns.
"The teachers and principals were around, but only about half of the students came back. We encouraged them and assured them that, by God's grace, the pupils and teachers in captivity would soon be released," he said.
He expressed gratitude that the victims were eventually rescued, saying their return encouraged more students to resume classes.
"God answered our prayers. The victims were released on Friday, and we resumed school on Monday," he said.
According to him, the presence of the rescued pupils and teachers has gradually restored confidence among parents, leading to a noticeable increase in school attendance.
He added that lessons have resumed fully and students are already sitting for external examinations.
"We have recorded more students returning to school. We also successfully conducted the NECO English Language examination, and I was among the teachers supervising the exercise," he said.
Despite the return to normal academic activities, he admitted that the psychological impact of the kidnapping is still affecting many members of staff.
"The fear is still there. Whenever we discuss what happened, some of the teachers become anxious. It is not something anyone can easily forget," he said.
The teacher appealed to the government to provide stronger security around rural schools, stressing that many teachers remain uncertain about their safety because there are no security personnel stationed near the school.
"Our biggest concern is security. If soldiers or police officers are deployed around the school, it will help reduce the fear. Right now, we don't see any visible security presence, and that keeps everyone worried," he said.
The pupils and teachers were rescued after spending 57 days in captivity following a coordinated operation by security agencies.
The attack, which took place in May, also claimed the lives of two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and Esiyan Adegboye.
