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The Principal of the secondary school abducted alongside teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has recounted the harrowing 56-day ordeal in captivity, saying victims were beaten, chained, and forced to trek through forests at night to evade security operatives.
Mrs. Alamu spoke on Monday after she and the other rescued teachers and pupils were officially handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
Describing life in captivity, the principal said the victims spent most of the 56 days in the open forest, exposed to sun, rain, and harsh weather while struggling to keep the children alive and emotionally stable.
“You can only imagine it. 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 knew it was only God that could help us, and we believed people were praying for us. That kept us going,” she said.
Alamu disclosed that although she was not physically assaulted, several of the younger pupils endured severe beatings whenever they cried or made noise.
“Personally, I was not beaten, but some of the children were beaten. What they hated most was noise because they believed it could attract attention.
The youngest children suffered the most. They would tie their mouths with pieces of cloth and beat them very well,” she said.
She added that the male victims suffered even worse treatment:
“The men had it worse than us. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on their legs.”
The principal also revealed there was no form of sexual molestation during the period.
According to her, the abductors constantly relocated whenever they suspected security forces were close, forcing both adults and children to embark on exhausting nighttime journeys.
“When the place was discovered, we had to move, and that usually started around seven or eight at night. Sometimes we walked for three to four hours. That is why you see bruises on our bodies.
The younger ones were carried, but the older children had to walk. They fell many times. It was very difficult.”
Alamu narrated how her car was initially used to convey them to a meeting point with primary school pupils and their teacher.
“From there, we walked for about one hour before they brought motorcycles. About 10 motorcycles were used to move us for more than four hours through bush paths they knew very well.”
Reflecting on the trauma, Mrs. Alamu, who has served for 28 years and has about 4 years to retirement, said returning to rural postings will now require enormous courage.
“Going to rural areas now will take the grace of God. Before this happened, I had already sacrificed a lot because of the distance. Now, coupled with this experience, I don’t know what will happen.
I want to see my husband. When I get home, I can think of every other thing,” she said.
The victims were rescued on Friday after a coordinated operation by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. They have since been receiving treatment at the Military Hospital, Ibadan.
