The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has narrated the harrowing 56-day ordeal she, other teachers and pupils endured in captivity after they were abducted by gunmen in Oyo State.
Speaking during the official handover of the rescued victims to Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, Folawe said the kidnappers subjected them to intense psychological torture and deliberately killed two captives in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
According to her, the abductors repeatedly told the victims that the government had abandoned them in a bid to weaken their resolve, while they constantly lived under the fear of death throughout their captivity.
She disclosed that one of the victims, Mr. Michael, was killed on the second day of the abduction, while another identified as Deacon was executed in early June to intensify pressure on the authorities.
Despite the traumatic experience, Folawe expressed gratitude to God for preserving their lives and thanked President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies and Nigerians whose prayers and support gave them hope during the ordeal.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed bandits attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that also claimed the lives of an assistant headmaster and a commercial motorcyclist.
The Presidency later confirmed that all the abducted teachers and pupils were rescued during a coordinated security operation, with eight suspected kidnappers arrested and several others neutralised. Authorities also stated that no ransom was paid for the victims’ release.
