The principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has revealed that the kidnappers who abducted teachers and pupils from the school deliberately killed two members of staff in a bid to pressure the government into meeting their demands.

Alamu made the disclosure on Monday while speaking to journalists shortly after she and other rescued victims were formally received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Government House.

The victims, who regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity, included teachers, pupils, and the school principal. Their rescue followed sustained efforts by security agencies and relevant authorities.

According to Alamu, the abductors believed that killing some of their captives would attract greater public attention and compel the authorities to act swiftly on their demands.

She explained that one of the victims, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher, was killed on the second day of their abduction, while another teacher, Mr. Esiyan Adegboye, was later murdered during the period of captivity.

The principal noted that the deaths of the two teachers left the remaining captives devastated and fearful, but they continued to hold on to the hope of eventual freedom.

“There were moments when we believed we would all return home safely. Unfortunately, the kidnappers killed two of our teachers because they wanted to put pressure on the government. They knew that many people across the country were following our situation closely,” she said.

Alamu expressed gratitude to God, security agencies, government authorities, and all those who contributed to securing their release, adding that the victims would require time to recover from the physical and emotional trauma they experienced.

Recounting their ordeal, she said the captives spent most of their time deep inside the forest, exposed to harsh weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and intense sunlight.

She explained that surviving in the wilderness was extremely challenging, particularly with young children in their care, but they remained hopeful and drew strength from their faith and the belief that people were praying for them.

According to her, the captives had little protection from the elements and endured significant hardship while striving to keep the children safe and emotionally stable.

Although she was not physically assaulted by the abductors, Alamu disclosed that several pupils suffered repeated beatings whenever they cried, complained, or made noise.

She described the experience as traumatic, noting that the children were frequently intimidated and subjected to harsh treatment by the kidnappers.

Following their rescue, the pupils and teachers were taken to a military medical facility in Ibadan, where they received medical care and psychosocial support before being handed over to the Oyo State Government.

Video footage circulating online showed the rescued victims arriving under tight security, with military personnel escorting them into government premises.

The successful rescue operation brought relief to families, residents, and well-wishers who had anxiously awaited positive news since the abduction occurred more than seven weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, political leaders, community stakeholders, and concerned citizens have continued to visit the rescued victims, expressing solidarity with them and commending the efforts that led to their safe return.