The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, on Monday, recounted the harrowing 56-day ordeal she and 45 pupils and teachers endured in captivity.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when terrorists attacked three schools – Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School – all in Oriire LGA.
They were rescued last Friday, 56 days after the abduction.
Two teachers were killed during the period in captivity.
Speaking to journalists in Ibadan on Monday during the handover of the rescued victims to Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, Alamu said the kidnappers beat the children and killed two teachers to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
“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 said.
She said the victims spent most of their time in captivity in the open forest, where they were exposed to harsh weather conditions and repeatedly beaten by their captors.
“We were in the forest, in the open most of the time, under the sun, under the rain. We knew it was God that could really help us; so that really helped us. And the fact that we believe that people are praying for us, that also helped us as well,” she said.
Reflecting on the experience, the school principal said there were moments when it seemed impossible to continue, yet they somehow found the strength to endure.
While she escaped physical assault, Alamu said several of the children were repeatedly beaten, particularly the youngest among them, whose cries angered their captors.
“Personally, I was not beaten, but some of the children were beaten. You know, children, some of them are quiet, some of them are loud. And what they hate most is noise because it attracts attention.
“The youngest of them, maybe the two, Walia and Salam, were the ones who took the best of the beating. They would close their mouths, tie them with clothes, and beat them very well,” she said.
According to her, the male victims endured even harsher treatment.
“The men, they had it worse than us because they were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on the leg. All of them, until they remained two.”
The principal said the kidnappers constantly moved the captives from one location to another whenever they feared their hideouts had been discovered.
Alamu recalled that while the kidnappers occasionally carried the youngest children, most of the victims, including schoolgirls, had to trek through the difficult terrain.
She added that the victims only realised after regaining their freedom that many Nigerians had been following their ordeal and praying for their safe return.
