The principal of the secondary school abducted alongside teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu
The principal of the secondary school abducted alongside teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has recounted the harrowing 56-day ordeal in captivity, revealing that children were beaten into silence, male teachers were chained and blindfolded, while the victims were repeatedly forced to embark on dangerous nighttime treks through forests to evade security operatives.
Alamu spoke on Monday after she and the rescued teachers and pupils were formally handed over to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The victims were abducted by gunmen on May 15, 2026, and spent nearly two months in captivity before regaining their freedom in a rescue operation by security agencies.
Describing life in captivity, the principal said the victims spent most of the 56 days in the open forest, exposed to harsh weather conditions while trying to keep the children alive and emotionally stable.
