The Senate has approved a N50 million donation to the families of five individuals killed in the rescue operation of kidnapped Oriire schoolchildren and teachers.

The students and staffers were abducted from three schools in the Oriire local council of Oyo on May 15.

The approval came after the Senate’s adoption of a motion moved on Tuesday by Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), hailing President Bola Tinubu, the military and other security agencies for the successful rescue mission.

Senate president Godwill Akpabio, who gave the approval during the plenary on Wednesday, stated that each of the five bereaved families would receive N10 million.

“The Senate took the decision to augment the upkeep of the children left behind by the deceased. Each of the deceased families will be given N10 million to be divided equally among the families of the three security operatives and two teachers who died during the operations,” Mr Akpabio said.

A senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, urged the federal government to parade and prosecute the arrested kidnappers to deter other criminals terrorising the country.

The deceased soldiers and the cop are Lieutenant F. A. Isaac of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa of the 81 Battalion, Nigerian Army, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome of the Nigeria Police Force. Two teachers were also killed, John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, while held hostage by the Oyo terrorists.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Governor Seyi Makinde’s government mourned the deceased. The government, in a statement on X, said, “While we express gratitude for the safe return of the children and teachers abducted from Oriire LGA, we also wish to honour those who lost their lives. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We commit to supporting them during this trying period. May their souls rest in peace.”

After spending 56 days in captivity, the hostages were rescued last Friday, in what the Nigerian government described as an intelligence-led operation involving operatives from multiple security agencies, including the State Security Service and the military.