The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has narrated the horrific experience she and dozens of abducted teachers and schoolchildren endured during their 56 days in captivity, revealing that the kidnappers killed two members of the group in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.
Speaking on Monday during the official handover of the rescued victims to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army, Folawe described their time in the forest as a nightmare marked by fear, hunger, exhaustion, psychological torture and the constant threat of death.
She said surviving the ordeal required faith, courage and the hope that security agencies and Nigerians had not forgotten them.
“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,” she said.
“It was a terrible experience, but we thank God for preserving our lives. We went through so much.”
The principal said the abductors worked tirelessly to break the spirit of the captives, repeatedly telling them that no one was searching for them and that the government had abandoned them because they were not important.
According to her, the kidnappers constantly used fear and emotional pressure to weaken the victims and make them lose hope.
“What gave us hope was knowing that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they tried to break our spirit with fear,” she recalled.
“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.”
Folawe disclosed that one of the darkest moments during their captivity came when the kidnappers executed two members of the group.
According to her, the killings were intended to pressure the government into meeting the demands of the abductors.
Although she did not reveal the identities of those killed or explain the circumstances surrounding their deaths, she said the incident left the remaining captives traumatised and convinced that anyone could be the next victim.
She said the executions served as a constant reminder that they were living under the shadow of death.
The principal also revealed that the male teachers suffered particularly harsh treatment while in captivity.
According to her, the kidnappers blindfolded and chained the men, subjecting them to more severe conditions than the female victims.
She described the overall conditions in the forest as extremely difficult.
“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.
Folawe said that although she was not physically assaulted, many of the children suffered serious abuse at the hands of the kidnappers.
She explained that the abductors became angry whenever the children cried or made noise because they feared the sounds could expose their location to security forces.
“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,” she said.
“The youngest children suffered the most. They would tie their mouths with pieces of cloth and beat them very well.”
Her account highlighted the severe emotional and physical trauma experienced by the young pupils during the weeks they spent in captivity.
The principal further revealed that the kidnappers rarely stayed in one location for long.
Whenever they suspected that security operatives had discovered their hideouts, they immediately forced the captives to relocate under the cover of darkness.
She said these movements often began between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and involved long, exhausting walks through forests and rough terrain.
“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.
According to her, while the kidnappers carried the youngest children, the older pupils had to walk long distances despite being weak and exhausted.
“The younger ones were carried, but the older children had to walk. They fell many times. It was very difficult.”
She said many of the victims sustained bruises and injuries during the repeated night journeys.
Despite the harsh conditions, Folawe said the captives encouraged one another and remained hopeful that they would eventually regain their freedom.
She expressed gratitude to God for preserving their lives and thanked the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government and the various security agencies whose efforts led to their rescue.
She also appreciated Nigerians for their prayers and support throughout the period of their captivity.
According to her, knowing that people across the country were praying for them gave the victims the strength to endure the difficult conditions in the forest.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; L.A. Primary School; and Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The coordinated attacks led to the abduction of more than 40 pupils and teachers, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns about insecurity in schools, especially in rural communities.
Following the attacks, security agencies launched a major rescue operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, as well as local hunters and vigilante groups.
After weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated operations, the victims were rescued from the Old Oyo National Park on July 10, 2026, after spending 56 days in captivity.
They were officially handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde in a ceremony attended by senior military officers and government officials.
Governor Makinde had repeatedly assured the families of the abducted victims that his administration would continue working with security agencies until every victim was safely rescued.
The successful operation has since been praised by many Nigerians, educational institutions, traditional rulers and civil society organisations, who described it as a major achievement for the country’s security agencies.
However, Folawe’s emotional testimony has once again exposed the terrible conditions endured by victims of kidnapping and the lasting emotional scars left by such experiences.
Mental health experts say survivors of prolonged captivity often require counselling and long-term psychological support to recover from the trauma of violence, fear and uncertainty.
Education stakeholders have also renewed calls for stronger security around schools, particularly those in remote communities, arguing that no child or teacher should have to endure such an ordeal simply for going to school.
For Folawe and the other rescued victims, returning home marks the end of weeks of suffering but the beginning of a long journey toward healing.
While expressing gratitude for their freedom, the principal said the memories of the days spent in the forest and of the colleagues who lost their lives during the ordeal would remain with them forever.