The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, Rachael Alamu, has revealed why their abductors killed two of her colleagues.
Alamu revealed this on Monday when the Nigerian Army handed her, other teachers, and pupils to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
She said that the kidnappers who held her, other teachers, and pupils for 56 days, killed two of their colleagues in a bid to pressure the government into meeting their demands.
She said: “We’re grateful to God.
“On May 15, a Friday that started well, ended in chaos for us.
“And for 56 days we were in the bush.
“It was a harrowing experience, but we thank God for seeing us through.
“We went through a lot.”
Alamu said the abductors constantly subjected the victims to psychological torture, repeatedly telling them that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their release.
She added: “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.”
According to Alamu, the kidnappers eventually killed two of the captives to increase pressure on the authorities.
She said: “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.”
Alamu thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Makinde, security agencies involved in the rescue operation, and Nigerians who supported them with prayers throughout their captivity.
