Oyo Abduction: Principal Recounts 56 Days of Ordeal, Beatings, and Night Treks Through Forest

The principal of a secondary school abducted in Nigeria's Oyo State has detailed the terrifying 56 days spent in captivity. Mrs. Racheal Alamu described how children were beaten for crying, male teachers were chained and blindfolded, and the group was forced to trek through forests at night to avoid security operatives.

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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.

Alamu recounted that the victims spent most of their captivity in the open forest, exposed to harsh weather. She emphasized the constant struggle to keep the children alive and emotionally stable. "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," she said.

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Personally, I was not beaten, but some of the children were beaten. What they hated most was noise because they believed it could attract attention. The youngest children suffered the most. They would tie their mouths with pieces of cloth and beat them very well.

The principal revealed that while she was not physically assaulted, younger pupils endured severe beatings if they made noise. "The youngest children suffered the most. They would tie their mouths with pieces of cloth and beat them very well," Alamu stated. Male captives faced harsher treatment, including being blindfolded, handcuffed, and chained.

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The men had it worse than us. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on their legs.

Despite the brutal conditions, Alamu confirmed there was no sexual molestation. Kidnappers frequently moved the captives, forcing them on dangerous nighttime journeys through difficult terrain whenever they feared discovery. "When the place was discovered, we had to move, and that usually started around seven or eight at night. Sometimes we walked for three to four hours. That is why you see bruises on our bodies," she explained. Older children had to walk for hours, often falling, while the youngest were carried.

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When the place was discovered, we had to move, and that usually started around seven or eight at night. Sometimes we walked for three to four hours. That is why you see bruises on our bodies.