IBADAN — The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has narrated the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured in the hands of kidnappers, revealing that the abductors deliberately killed two captives in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
Mrs. Folawe spoke on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army. She described the period in captivity as one filled with fear, uncertainty and psychological torture, saying the experience left lasting emotional scars on the survivors.
According to her, what began as a normal school day on May 15 quickly turned into a nightmare when armed bandits stormed their community and abducted teachers and pupils.
“We thank God for preserving our lives. On May 15, a day that started peacefully ended in chaos for us. We spent 56 days in the bush under extremely difficult conditions. It was a painful and terrifying experience, but God saw us through,” she said.
Mrs. Folawe disclosed that the kidnappers constantly employed psychological tactics to weaken the captives’ resolve. She said they repeatedly claimed that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their freedom.
She explained that despite the threats and intimidation, the captives held on to hope and continued believing they would eventually regain their freedom.
She also expressed gratitude to Nigerians whose prayers and support, though unknown to them at the time, became a source of encouragement after their rescue.
The principal further revealed that the kidnappers executed two victims during their captivity to intensify pressure on the authorities.
According to her, Mr. Michael was killed on the second day of their captivity, while another victim identified simply as Deacon was murdered on the first Sunday of June.
She said the abductors believed the killings would compel the government to meet their demands.
Mrs. Folawe noted that it was only after they regained their freedom that they realised the magnitude of national concern over their abduction.
“We came out with emotional scars, but we believe that with time we will heal,” she said.
She thanked President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigerian Army, other security agencies involved in the rescue operation and Nigerians across the country for their prayers and unwavering support throughout the period of captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily 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.
The attack also claimed the lives of an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist. Following the incident, the Oyo State Government ordered the temporary closure of schools in four local government areas while security agencies launched intensive rescue operations.
The Presidency announced on Friday that all the abducted teachers and pupils had been rescued during a coordinated security operation.
According to the Presidency, eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several other members of the criminal gang were neutralised during the operation.
The Presidency also maintained that no ransom was paid and no prisoner exchange was carried out to secure the release of the victims.
Rescued Oyo School Principal Recounts 56-Day Ordeal in Captivity, Says Kidnappers Killed Two Victims to Pressure Government
