The principal of Community High School, Esin Ele, Rachael Alamu, says kidnappers repeatedly assaulted young pupils during their 56-day captivity, describing the experience as traumatic and saying she is uncertain about returning to her former posting. Rachael Alamu made the disclosure after she and 45 other victims were rescued following their abduction during attacks on […]
The principal of Community High School, Esin Ele, Rachael Alamu, says kidnappers repeatedly assaulted young pupils during their 56-day captivity, describing the experience as traumatic and saying she is uncertain about returning to her former posting.
Rachael Alamu made the disclosure after she and 45 other victims were rescued following their abduction during attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The rescue operation was carried out by security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the police and the Department of State Services, after nearly two months in captivity.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, Alamu said the abductors targeted younger children whenever they cried or made noise because they feared attracting attention from security operatives.
She explained that the children were beaten severely, while the male captives were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained throughout much of the ordeal.
According to the school principal, the victims spent weeks in the forest, moving from one location to another whenever the kidnappers believed their camps had been discovered.
She said the repeated night-time movements left many of them with bruises after trekking long distances through difficult terrain.
Alamu added that the abductors first used her vehicle before transporting the victims on motorcycles along remote forest routes.
Reflecting on the incident, she said the experience has left her unsure whether she would return to the community where she had served for nearly three decades.