From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Folake Alamu, has recounted the traumatic experience she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured during their 56 days in captivity, revealing that two of their colleagues were killed by their abductors.
Mrs. Alamu spoke after Governor Seyi Makinde, formally received the rescued victims at the Executive Council Chambers in Agodi, Ibadan.
Describing the ordeal as terrifying, she said the kidnappers kept the victims under constant fear and subjected them to severe hardship throughout their captivity.
“It was a harrowing experience. We went through a lot, but we knew Nigerians were praying for us while we were in captivity. The kidnappers used fear to subdue us,” she said.
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The school principal disclosed that the abductors killed two members of the group during the period they were held hostage.
“They killed Mr. Micheal on the second day we got there, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June,” she said.
According to her, the captives were forced to undertake a difficult journey through the forest shortly before they regained their freedom.
“We walked in the bush for about four hours at night, and that’s why we have bruises all over our bodies,” she explained.
Mrs. Alamu, however, dismissed reports that any of the victims was sexually assaulted while in captivity, stating emphatically: “There was no sexual assault.”
Speaking on her future as a teacher, she admitted that the experience had left deep emotional wounds and said she had yet to decide whether she would return to the classroom.
“With time, I believe I will heal. But from Ogbomoso to where I work is already a long distance, and I have worked for 28 years already. I don’t know what to do about that for now, but with time, I believe I will be able to make a decision,” she said.
Despite the painful experience, Mrs. Alamu expressed gratitude to God for preserving the lives of the survivors. She also appreciated the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, security agencies and Nigerians for their prayers and support.
“We thank God for not leaving us. We thank the government for rescuing us, and we thank Nigerians for their prayers and support throughout our ordeal,” she added.
Mrs. Alamu was among the teachers and pupils abducted by gunmen while travelling in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that generated widespread concern across Oyo State and beyond.
The victims were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity and were first taken to the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division Hospital in Ibadan for medical examination and treatment before being presented to Governor Makinde.
While receiving the victims, Governor Makinde commended security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the teachers and pupils.
He also assured the survivors and their families of continued government support to aid their physical and psychological recovery.
The successful rescue has been welcomed by residents of Oyo State, with renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect schools and rural communities from further attacks.
