“They intentionally killed two teachers, beat youngest pupils for making noise,” Ogbomoso principal recounts 56-day ordeal in captivity

The principal of Community High School, Esin Ele, Rachael Alamu, has narrated her ordeal in captivity, revealing that some of the youngest pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were repeatedly beaten by their captors for making noise during their 56-day captivity.

Alamu was abducted alongside six teachers and 39 pupils when terrorists attacked Community High School, Esin Ele; First Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; and LA Primary School, Yawota, on May 15.

The victims regained their freedom on Friday following a joint rescue operation by the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, supported by intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS).

After receiving medical attention, the rescued pupils and teachers were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday.

Speaking with journalists at the Government House in Ibadan, Alamu said although she was not physically assaulted, the abductors often beat the younger children to silence them.

“You know, children, some of them are quiet, some of them are loud. And what they hate most is noise, that it attracts attention. So, the youngest of them, maybe the two, Waliyah and Salam, they were the ones that took the bulk of the beating,” Alamu said.

“They will close their mouth, tie it with cloth, and beat them very well. Then the men, they had it worse than us because they were blindfolded, handcuffed, and chained on the leg. All of them, until they remained two.”

She said the victims endured harsh conditions throughout their captivity and were frequently forced to relocate whenever the kidnappers suspected their hideout had been exposed.

“…then we had to move from one point to another. And that was a major problem we had. When the place is discovered, we have to move. And that starts around 7 to 8 in the night. Sometimes we walk three, four hours. That is most of the bruises you see on our bodies,” she said.

Alamu explained that the abductors initially transported them in her vehicle before forcing them to trek and later conveying them on motorcycles into the forest.

“When we were taken, my car was used to convey us to a point. That was where we met the primary pupils and the teacher,” she said.

“So, we had to walk for about one hour. They brought motorcycles and about 10 of them. So, we were packed there. And we rode for more than four hours on unchartered paths, but they knew their way.”

When asked whether she would return to the rural community where she had worked before the abduction, the principal said she had yet to make a decision.

“I’ve worked for 28 years. So, I have four years. With time, maybe I can get over it. But going that far, the distance between that place and Ogbomoso is far already. So, I sacrifice a lot when it comes to transportation. Now, coupled with this, I don’t know what will happen next,” she said.