Alamu Folawe, principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, has recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured in captivity, revealing that their abductors killed two victims to pressure the government.
Folawe spoke on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, describing their time in captivity as a harrowing experience marked by fear, uncertainty, and constant threats.
“We’re grateful to God. On May 15, a Friday that started well ended in chaos for us, and for 56 days we were in the bush. It was a harrowing experience, but we thank God for seeing us through. We went through a lot,” she said.
She explained that the kidnappers used fear and psychological manipulation to weaken the captives, repeatedly telling them that the government had abandoned them.
“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she recalled.
Folawe disclosed that two captives were executed in a bid to force government action.
“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.
“It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal.”
She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies, and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained them during their captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when gunmen attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, alongside Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The attack resulted in the deaths of an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist, prompting the Oyo State Government to shut down schools in four local government areas while security agencies intensified rescue efforts.
The Presidency later confirmed that all abducted pupils and teachers were rescued in a coordinated operation. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and are currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while several others were neutralised during the operation.
He added that no ransom was paid and no prisoner exchange took place to secure the release of the victims.
