Post by Ibadan Watch (@Ibadanwatch)

Rescued Oyo Principal Recounts 56 Days of Terror as Kidnappers Forced Pupils on Nightly Forest Treks.

The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Rachael Alamu, has recounted the harrowing 56-day ordeal she and dozens of pupils and teachers endured after being abducted by kidnappers, revealing how the captives were forced to embark on exhausting night-time treks through dense forests to evade security forces.

Speaking at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan after she and 43 other victims were formally handed over to the state government, Mrs Alamu said the abductors constantly relocated them whenever they suspected security operatives were closing in.

According to her, the gruelling journeys usually began around 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. and lasted between three and four hours. The repeated treks left many victims with bruises and injuries after countless falls on the rough forest terrain.

She explained that while the kidnappers occasionally carried the three youngest children, older pupils were left to fend for themselves. Secondary school girls also helped carry smaller children, highlighting the resilience of the captives despite their difficult circumstances.

Mrs Alamu said the victims spent most of their captivity exposed to the elements, sleeping in the open under the scorching sun and heavy rain. She credited their survival to faith, saying they held on to the belief that God would rescue them and that people outside were praying for their freedom.

Recalling the first days after the abduction, she said the gunmen initially drove the victims away in her vehicle before abandoning it and leading them into the forest. After trekking for about an hour, they were transferred onto motorcycles and transported for more than four hours through difficult terrain known only to their captors.

She added that although the kidnappers provided biscuits during the first week, the meagre food supply soon stopped, forcing the victims to endure prolonged hardship.

The traumatic experience has also left the veteran educator uncertain about returning to a remote school. Having spent 28 years in the teaching profession, with only four years left before retirement, she admitted it would take time and "the grace of God" to consider another rural posting.

Mrs Alamu and over 40 pupils and teachers regained their freedom on July 10 after coordinated rescue operations involving the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, NSCDC, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes. The operation, however, came at a heavy cost, claiming the lives of security personnel and three teachers, including mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun.

Governor Seyi Makinde said the rescued victims would remain under medical observation and counselling before reuniting with their families.

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