The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has narrated the harrowing 56-day ordeal she, fellow teachers and pupils endured in captivity, revealing that the kidnappers deliberately killed two teachers in an attempt to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
Speaking on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, the principal described their time in captivity as a traumatic experience marked by fear, uncertainty and constant threats to their lives.
“We’re grateful to God. On May 15, a Friday that began like every other day ended in chaos. We spent 56 days in the bush.
“It was a terrible experience, but we thank God for preserving our lives. We went through so much,” she said.
According to Mrs. Folawe, the abductors subjected the victims to repeated psychological torture, telling them that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their freedom.
She said the kidnappers constantly tried to destroy their morale by convincing them that they had been forgotten.
“What gave us hope was knowing that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they tried to break our spirit with fear.
“They kept telling us the government didn’t care about us because we were not important. But despite everything, we held on to the hope that we would return home alive,” she recalled.
The principal further disclosed that the kidnappers executed two of the abducted teachers to intensify pressure on the authorities.
According to her, the first teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was killed on the second day of their captivity, while the second victim, Deacon Ojo Matthew, was murdered weeks later.
She said the killings were carried out deliberately to force the government to concede to the kidnappers’ demands.
Despite the devastating losses, Mrs. Folawe expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army, other security agencies, the Oyo State Government and Nigerians who prayed and supported efforts that eventually led to the rescue of the remaining victims after 56 days in captivity.
Her emotional account has sparked renewed calls for stronger security around schools and greater protection for students and teachers across the country.
“The terrorists killed Mr. Michael on the second day of our abduction and killed Deacon on the first Sunday of June. They did it to force the government’s hand.”
— Mrs. Rachael Folake Alamu. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/r0AbsjsmCG https://t.co/DWwIb5l0sL— NaijaWide Media (@Naijawide01) July 13, 2026
