The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has disclosed that kidnappers who held her, other teachers and pupils captive for 56 days killed two of their colleagues in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.
Alamu made the revelation on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army.
Recounting their ordeal, the principal described the period in captivity as traumatic and filled with fear, uncertainty and repeated threats to their lives.
“We’re grateful to God. On May 15, a Friday that started well ended in chaos for us, and for 56 days we were in the bush. It was a harrowing experience, but we thank God for seeing us through. We went through a lot,” she said.
According to her, the abductors subjected the victims to intense psychological torture, repeatedly telling them that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their release.
“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us.
At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she said.
Alamu revealed that the kidnappers eventually executed two of the captives in a bid to intensify pressure on the authorities.
“Mr Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she stated.
She said it was only after they regained their freedom that the victims realised that many Nigerians had been following their ordeal and praying for their safe return.
“It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she added.
The principal expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies involved in the rescue operation, as well as Nigerians who supported them with prayers during their captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when armed bandits attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
