By Ayobami Okerinde
The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, on Monday recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured in captivity, saying the kidnappers deliberately killed two of their colleagues to pressure the government while leaving the survivors with lasting emotional scars.
Folawe spoke during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Army, describing their time in captivity as a harrowing experience marked by fear, uncertainty and the constant threat of death.
“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.
The principal said the abductors repeatedly used fear and psychological intimidation to weaken the captives, telling them that the government had abandoned them and no longer cared about their fate.
