Principal recounts 58-day kidnapping ordeal in Oyo

Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the principal of Esinle Community High School, recounted her harrowing experience of being held captive for 58 days by armed bandits during a thanksgiving service at the Antioch Baptist Church in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

She described the seventh week of captivity as the most terrifying, as intensified military operations led to fears of being harmed by stray missiles. Alamu noted that the sound of military bombardments shifted their focus from the bandits to the fear of accidental strikes.

Initially, the captives had hope when informed that Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde assured their release by the end of the week, but the situation changed dramatically with the onset of air raids.

The tension escalated when one of the gang leaders unexpectedly summoned her, heightening her anxiety. The abduction incident has drawn national attention, raising concerns about school security in Nigeria.