The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has revealed that the kidnappers who held her, teachers and pupils captive for 56 days deliberately executed two teachers to force the government into meeting their demands.
Speaking on Monday during the formal handover of the rescued victims to the Oyo State Government at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, Alamu said the abductors used fear, psychological torture and the killings to pressure authorities.
According to her, Mathematics teacher Mr Michael Oyedokun was beheaded on the second day of their captivity, while another teacher, Mr Esiyan Adegboye, popularly known as Deacon, was shot dead on the first Sunday of June.
“They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the hand of the government to give them whatever they want,” Alamu said.
She disclosed that the captives endured harsh conditions in the forest, spending most of the 56 days in the open under the scorching sun and heavy rain while trying to keep the pupils alive and emotionally stable.
“It was not easy. We were in the forest, in the open, most of the time, under the sun and under the rain, with the children. But we kept going because there was no way out. We believed people were praying for us, and that kept us going,” she said.
Alamu added that although she was not physically assaulted, several of the younger pupils were severely beaten whenever they cried or made noise. She also said the kidnappers repeatedly told the hostages that the government had abandoned them in a bid to break their spirit.
Despite the intimidation, she said the victims never lost hope, believing they would eventually regain their freedom.
“It was only after we got out that we discovered that the whole world was interested in our case. We thought that we were a write-off,” she said.
Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies and all those involved in the rescue operation, Alamu acknowledged that while the victims survived the ordeal, the emotional scars remain.
“We have scars already. We believe that with time, we will heal,” she said.
The rescued teachers and pupils were handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government after receiving medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan.
Governor Seyi Makinde received the victims at the Government House on Monday, days after security agencies secured their release following more than 50 days in captivity. The late Adegboye was buried in Ogbomoso on May 22.
