The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Rachael Alamu, has shared her experience after spending 56 days in captivity alongside more than 40 pupils and teachers abducted by kidnappers.
Speaking to journalists on Monday after the victims were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government by the military, Alamu described the ordeal as one of the most traumatic moments of her life.
She said that although she was not physically assaulted, several of the children endured repeated beatings during their captivity. According to her, the kidnappers were particularly intolerant of noise, believing it could expose their hideout.
“Personally, I was not beaten. Some of the children were beaten. You know children; some are quiet, some are loud. What they hated most was noise because they believed it could attract attention,” she said.
Alamu disclosed that the youngest pupils suffered the harshest treatment. She alleged that two of the youngest captives, identified as Waliya and Salam, were repeatedly beaten after being restrained whenever they cried or made noise.
She also revealed that the male captives were subjected to stricter conditions than the women. According to her, the men were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained to restrict their movement and prevent any attempt to escape.
Despite the difficult conditions, Alamu stated that none of the female captives was sexually assaulted during the 56 days they remained in captivity.
The victims were abducted on 15 May when gunmen attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Primary School, Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area.
Their freedom came on 10 July following weeks of coordinated rescue operations involving the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes.
The rescue mission came at a significant cost. Two teachers and several security personnel lost their lives during the abduction and rescue operations, while another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed during the period of captivity, further highlighting the devastating impact of the incident on the affected communities.
