The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Folawe Alamu, has narrated the traumatic experience she and dozens of teachers and pupils endured during their 56 days in the custody of kidnappers, revealing that the children were gagged and beaten whenever they cried.
Mrs. Alamu spoke on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Ibadan shortly after she and the other rescued victims were officially handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Nigerian Army following their rescue from captivity.
She described the ordeal as one of the darkest moments of their lives, saying the victims spent weeks sleeping in the open forest under harsh weather conditions while battling hunger, exhaustion and uncertainty.
According to her, the abductors dealt harshly with the younger pupils, fearing their cries could expose the group’s location to security personnel searching the forest.
She said the children were often silenced by having pieces of cloth tied around their mouths before being flogged.
“The younger children suffered the most because they cried frequently. The kidnappers would tie pieces of cloth around their mouths and beat them severely,” she said.
Mrs. Alamu disclosed that the victims were constantly on the move as the kidnappers attempted to evade security forces.
She explained that the captives were usually forced to begin long treks through the forest in the evening, with the journeys lasting several hours over difficult terrain that left many of them bruised and physically drained.
The principal also revealed that the male teachers faced harsher treatment than the women, as they remained blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on their legs for much of the period in captivity.
Despite the brutality, she noted that none of the victims was sexually assaulted during the ordeal.
Mrs. Alamu expressed appreciation to God for preserving their lives and thanked the Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, the Oyo State Government and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained them throughout the period of captivity.
The 44 teachers and students regained their freedom after a coordinated multi-agency security operation ended the more than seven-week ordeal. They are currently undergoing medical examinations and receiving psychosocial support before being reunited with their families.
