Daud Olatunji
The principal of Community High School, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has recounted the harrowing 56 days she and other abducted teachers and pupils spent in captivity, revealing that kidnappers gagged and brutalised children, chained male teachers and forced their captives on exhausting midnight treks through forests to evade security operatives.
Alamu spoke on Monday after she, the rescued teachers and pupils were formally handed over to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House, Ibadan, following their rescue by security forces after nearly two months in captivity.
The victims were abducted by armed men on May 15, 2026, in Oriire Local Government Area.
Narrating the ordeal, the school principal said the abductors subjected both adults and children to inhumane conditions, keeping them in the open forest under scorching sun and heavy rainfall throughout the period.
“It was not easy. We stayed in the forest, in the open, under the rain and the sun with the children. There was no way out. We believed only God could help us, and we knew people were praying for us. That was what kept us alive,” she said.
Alamu disclosed that although she escaped physical assault, several of the younger pupils were repeatedly beaten whenever they cried or made noise.
She said the kidnappers feared the children’s cries could expose their hideouts to security operatives.
“The youngest children suffered the most. They tied pieces of cloth over their mouths and beat them severely whenever they cried. They hated any noise because they believed it could attract security personnel,” she said.
Despite the harsh conditions, she said none of the victims suffered sexual assault during the 56-day captivity.
“There was no form of molestation,” she added.
The principal also revealed that the kidnappers constantly relocated the captives whenever they suspected troops were closing in, forcing adults and children to undertake dangerous treks through dense forests under the cover of darkness.
“Whenever they felt the place had been discovered, we would move. We usually started around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., sometimes trekking for three to four hours. That is why many of us have bruises on our bodies,” she said.
According to her, while the abductors carried the younger children during the long journeys, older pupils were left to trek for hours, often falling repeatedly because of exhaustion.
“The younger ones were carried, but the older children had to walk. They fell many times. It was a terrible experience,” she added.
Alamu further narrated that shortly after the abduction, the victims were taken deeper into the forest using her vehicle before being transferred onto motorcycles.
“My car was used to convey us to where we met the primary school pupils and their teacher. From there, we trekked for about an hour before they brought about 10 motorcycles, which transported us through bush paths for over four hours,” she said.
Reflecting on the impact of the traumatic experience, the principal admitted that returning to a rural posting would be difficult.
“I have worked for 28 years and have about four years to retire. Going back to a rural community now will take the grace of God. Before this incident, I had already made many sacrifices because of the distance. Now, with this experience, I don’t know what the future holds. I just want to reunite with my husband first,” she said.
She disclosed that the male teachers suffered harsher treatment than the women throughout the captivity.
“The men had it worse. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on their legs,” she said.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the rescued teachers and pupils were handed over to the Oyo State Government after undergoing medical treatment and psychosocial evaluation at the Military Hospital, Ibadan.
The abduction, which lasted 56 days, sparked national outrage and renewed concerns over the worsening wave of kidnappings targeting schools and vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
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