Dr. Bulama Bukarti, a security and conflict analyst, has called the rescue of abducted students and teachers from Oyo State "fantastic news" while demanding that authorities provide sustained psychological care for survivors.
Speaking on Channels TV on Friday, he praised what he called a successful operation.
Bukarti, however, pressed the government to make clear whether the victims were genuinely freed through military action or if ransom payments were involved. "I hope and pray that this is an actual military operation and not a negotiation where money or anything else was given to the terrorists," he told the station.
He warned that paying ransom to abductors only incentivises them to strike again. Such payments give militant groups the motivation, cash and weapons needed to launch fresh attacks, he explained.
The analyst stressed that the ordeal endured by the captives during their 56 days in captivity cannot be overlooked or minimised. The students and teachers faced brutal conditions in remote areas, he noted, struggling without enough food, shelter or contact with family members.
Many were allegedly threatened and physically abused while in captivity. Bukarti warned that ignoring their trauma could lead to lasting damage.
"We should not gloss over the suffering of these students and teachers," he said. "If we fail to address their trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder could remain with them for the rest of their lives and even affect future generations."
He called on the Oyo State Government to arrange comprehensive mental health support alongside standard medical care for all survivors. Specialist psychosocial intervention is critical, Bukarti insisted, to help the victims process their experiences and begin healing.
