The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and dozens of pupils and teachers endured in captivity after they were abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, revealing that children were beaten into silence while male teachers were chained and blindfolded.

Speaking after the rescued victims were received by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan, Alamu said the captives spent most of their time in the open forest, exposed to harsh weather conditions with little food and limited access to clean water. She disclosed that the abductors repeatedly forced them to undertake long treks through the forest, often at night, to evade security operatives.

According to the principal, younger children who cried or made noise were severely beaten by the kidnappers, while the male teachers remained chained and blindfolded throughout much of their captivity. Despite the difficult conditions, she said the teachers remained united in caring for the children and drew strength from their faith and the belief that people were praying for their safe return.

Relatives of the rescued victims also disclosed that they survived largely on cocoyam, noodles, and water fetched from a nearby waterfall during the 56 days they remained in the forest. Alamu, who has served as a teacher for 28 years, described the experience as deeply traumatic and admitted she was uncertain about returning to work in remote communities after the ordeal.

The victims were among those abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire earlier this year. Their eventual rescue followed an extensive intelligence-led operation involving the military and multiple security agencies, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty for their families and communities.