The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has recounted the traumatic 56 days she and dozens of pupils and colleagues spent in captivity, saying intensified military airstrikes at one point became a greater source of fear than the kidnappers holding them.
Mrs Alamu was among 46 pupils, teachers and school officials abducted on 15 May when armed men attacked Community High School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and L.A. Primary School.
Two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye, were killed before security operatives rescued 44 victims on 10 July in an intelligence-led operation.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Antioch Baptist Church in Ogbomoso on Sunday, Mrs Alamu described the seventh week of captivity as the most difficult period, as military operations against the kidnappers intensified.
“Apart from seeing the hand of God right from the beginning, the seventh week was the hardest for us all. The troops intensified their air raids. It was so intense and persistent that, at one point, the fear of the bandits became secondary. We were praying that missiles would not accidentally be dropped on us. We were so exposed, covered only with polythene bags and grass,” she said.
She recalled that the captors had earlier told them that they would be released after being informed that the Oyo State governor had promised to secure their freedom before the following Friday. However, the heavy bombardment that began on Tuesday heightened tensions in the camp.
According to her, the situation worsened when the camp commander summoned her after the sustained airstrikes and threatened to kill another hostage.
She said she pleaded with the commander to spare their lives, reminding him that the victims’ families could not meet the kidnappers’ demands.
“Unlike before, he became calm. He said, ‘Now that the government has been doing this, what do you want us to do?’ I said, ‘What you asked for is beyond any of the victims’ families. Just ask for what we can run around for.’ He said, ‘Okay.’ I thought that had passed. Later that night, we started hearing the sound of shovels. The two men were shouting; I was crying because we all knew what that meant.
“They were about to bury another person. But to the glory of God, that night, they just asked us to move, because they could no longer remain in that location,” she said.
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