The principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has revealed that the kidnappers murdered two teachers to pressure the government into meeting their demands during the 56-day captivity of pupils and school staff.
Speaking after she and the rescued victims were received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Government House on Monday, Alamu said the abductors deliberately killed the teachers because they believed the deaths would force the authorities to concede to their demands.
According to Punch, the victims included Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded on the second day of captivity, and Esiyan Adegboye, who was shot dead during the abduction. Adegboye was buried in Ogbomoso on May 22.
“There were times we believed we would all come out alive,” Alamu said. “They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the hand of the government to provide them whatever they wanted. They already knew the whole world was interested in our case.”
She recounted the harsh conditions endured by the victims, saying they spent most of their time in the open forest under the scorching sun and heavy rain while trying to protect and encourage the children.
“It was not easy. We were in the forest, in the open, most of the time, under the sun and under the rain, with the children. But we kept going because there was no way out. We believed people were praying for us, and that kept us going,” she said.
Alamu added that although she was not physically assaulted, many of the younger pupils were severely beaten whenever they cried or made noise.
The Federal Government officially handed over the rescued pupils and teachers to the Oyo State Government after security agencies secured their release following more than 50 days in captivity.
Before the handover, the victims received medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan, where Governor Makinde visited them. The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, also visited the survivors.
