The horrifying ordeal endured by pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has emerged, with survivors revealing how bandits chained teachers, repeatedly beat children, executed two educators and forced their captives to trek for hours through forests during their 56-day captivity.
The disturbing accounts were shared on Monday at the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Ibadan, where the rescued victims were formally handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife.
Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Dada, Mrs Rachael Alamu, recounted how the kidnappers subjected the victims to both physical and psychological torture throughout their captivity.
According to her, the abductors transported the victims deep into the forest on about 10 motorcycles immediately after the attack.
“They brought motorcycles, about 10 of them. So, we were packed there. We rode for more than four hours on rough paths, but they knew their way,” she said.
She explained that life in captivity became even more difficult as the kidnappers constantly relocated them whenever they suspected security forces were closing in.
“At one point, the kidnappers started moving us from one point to another. That was a major problem because the movements used to start around 7 a.m. and end around 8 p.m.
“Sometimes we walked for three or four hours. That is what caused most of the bruises you see on our bodies.”
The principal disclosed that older female students often carried the younger children whenever they became too exhausted to continue.
“The girls, my secondary school girls, used to carry them — Salam, Waliyat and Testimony. The other ones walked. We used to fall sometimes,” she said.
She also revealed that the male teachers spent most of their captivity blindfolded with their legs chained, while children were frequently beaten whenever they made noise because the kidnappers feared they could attract security operatives.
Mrs Alamu described how the abductors deliberately executed teachers to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
According to her, Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was murdered on the second day of captivity, while another teacher, Deacon Adesiyan Adegboye, was executed on the first Sunday of June.
“They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the hand of the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she said.
Beyond the killings, she said the kidnappers constantly tried to destroy their morale by convincing them they had been forgotten.
“So many times they used fear to subdue us. At one point, they told us that the government would not be interested in our case again because they did not value us.”
She said the victims only realised after regaining freedom that Nigerians had continued to campaign for their rescue.
“It was not until we got out that we discovered that the whole world was interested in our case. We thought that we were a write-off.”
Despite the trauma, she thanked President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigerian military and other security agencies for securing their freedom.
“We have scars already. We believe that with time, we will heal. We pray that God will console the families of those who lost their lives,” she said.
Governor Makinde disclosed that eight people died during the abduction and rescue operation, including three teachers — Adesiyan Adegboye, Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye — three Amotekun operatives identified as Adigun Saibu, Isa Saliu and Rafiu Ayuba, as well as Lieutenant F.A. Isaac and another soldier.
The governor pledged comprehensive medical care, rehabilitation and psychosocial support for the rescued pupils and teachers, noting that the emotional impact of the ordeal would require long-term attention.
Major General Nnebeife said the military eventually forced the kidnappers to release the victims by systematically cutting off their food supplies, logistics and escape routes through weeks of coordinated operations.
“We will never yield to terrorists’ requests. We will never do that,” the GOC said, reiterating the military’s policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists.
