The principal of Esinle Community High School, Mrs. Rachel Alamu, has recounted the traumatic experience she endured during her 56 days in captivity, describing the seventh week as the most terrifying period of the ordeal.
Mrs. Alamu, who was abducted alongside other teachers and pupils from the school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, shared her experience during a thanksgiving service at Antioch Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, following her release.
She said intensified military air raids around the kidnappers’ camp during the seventh week created greater fear among the captives, who became more worried about being hit by missiles than by their abductors.
According to her, the captives spent much of that period praying that the military bombardment would not accidentally claim their lives.
Mrs. Alamu disclosed that before the intensified military operation, the kidnappers had informed them that Governor Seyi Makinde had reportedly assured them they would regain their freedom before Friday, giving the captives hope of an imminent release.
She, however, said the kidnappers became angry when the air raids intensified, leading to heightened tension in the camp.
The principal recalled that one of the gang leaders later summoned her and blamed the government for frustrating their plans, threatening to kill one of the captives.
She said the threat overwhelmed her emotionally, prompting her to plead with the gang leader to spare their lives, reminding him that some members of their group had already been lost and that any further deaths would deepen their suffering.
According to Mrs. Alamu, the gang leader later calmed down and asked her what he should do about the situation.
She explained that she told him the kidnappers’ demands were beyond the capacity of the victims’ families and appealed to them to make requests that could realistically be met.
Mrs. Alamu said the frightening experience continued later that night when the captives heard the sound of shovels, leading them to believe the kidnappers were digging graves in preparation for their execution.
She added that the feared execution did not take place, as the kidnappers later ordered the captives to continue moving instead.
The principal also recalled being instructed to stop the children from crying, despite the difficulty of calming toddlers who were hungry and frightened.
Mrs. Alamu further revealed that throughout the 56-day ordeal, she constantly prayed not only for freedom but also to return home and find her family alive, particularly because of her husband’s health condition.
She attributed the survival of all the captives to divine intervention, maintaining that it was God’s mercy that prevented the kidnappers from carrying out their repeated threats.
Vanguard