NIGERIA: Kidnappers Killed Two Oyo Teachers To Pressure Government, Rescued Principal Reveals After 56-Day Ordeal

By Onoja Baba

The principal of Community High School, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has revealed that the kidnappers who abducted her, teachers and pupils deliberately killed two teachers in captivity in a bid to pressure the government into meeting their demands.

Speaking on Monday after she and other rescued victims were received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Government House, Alamu said the abductors believed the killings would force authorities to yield to their demands because the abduction had attracted widespread national attention.

“The terrorists killed Mr Michael, the first teacher, on the second day of our abduction and Deacon, the second teacher, was killed on the first Sunday of June,” she 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 that the whole world was interested in our case,” she added.

The victims regained freedom after spending 56 days in captivity following a rescue operation by security agencies.

Among those killed were Mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly beheaded in the kidnappers’ camp, and Mr Esiyan Adegboye, 49, who was shot during the attack on the school. Adegboye was buried in Ogbomoso on May 22.

Recounting their ordeal, the principal described life in captivity as a daily struggle for survival, saying they spent most of the period in the open forest under harsh weather conditions while trying to protect and comfort frightened children.

“You can only imagine it. 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 knew it was only God that could help us, and we believed people were praying for us. That kept us going,” she said.

Alamu disclosed that although she was not physically assaulted, several of the younger pupils were repeatedly beaten whenever they cried or made noise, leaving many of them traumatised.

The Federal Government formally handed over the rescued teachers and pupils to the Oyo State Government on Monday after they had received medical attention and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan.

Governor Seyi Makinde, who had visited the victims at the hospital shortly after their rescue, welcomed them at the Government House and assured them of continued support as they begin the process of healing and reintegration.

The successful rescue ended weeks of anxiety that gripped Oyo State after gunmen attacked Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area and abducted pupils, teachers and the school principal, sparking nationwide concern over the worsening insecurity confronting schools in parts of the country.

The rescue has also renewed calls for stronger security measures around schools and improved protection for students and education workers against rising cases of kidnapping for ransom across Nigeria.