Principal recounts trauma of 56-day captivity
The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, on Monday, July 13, recounted the traumatic 56-day ordeal she and other abducted teachers and pupils endured in captivity. She said the kidnappers deliberately killed two of their colleagues to pressure the government while leaving the survivors with lasting emotional scars.
Official handover to Governor Makinde
Folawe spoke during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army. She described how the abductors repeatedly used fear and psychological intimidation to weaken the captives, telling them that the government had abandoned them and no longer cared about their fate.
Hope amid fear
“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive,” she recalled.
Kidnappers executed two colleagues
The principal revealed that the kidnappers executed two of her colleagues in an attempt to force the government’s hand. “Mr. Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted. It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal,” she said.
Gratitude to leaders and Nigerians
She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies involved in the rescue operation, and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained hope throughout their captivity.
