The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has clarified why one of her first questions after surviving a gruelling 56-day kidnapping ordeal was about the whereabouts of her personal vehicle.
Speaking at the Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan on Monday, July 13, 2026, Mrs Alamu addressed public reactions to her inquiry, explaining that she was under the impression her car had been recovered by security forces.
The principal, alongside 43 other pupils and teachers rescued from captivity, was being formally received by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde following their release.
“What actually happened is I thought they left the car there,” Mrs Alamu clarified. “I believed the police would have towed it to their station. It was only later that someone showed me where the vehicle had been set ablaze by the kidnappers. The site where it was burnt was completely off the path they forced us to trek.”
Inside the harrowing 56-day forest ordeal
The victims—who were forcefully taken by armed bandits from their school premises in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026—spent nearly two months enduring severe abuse.
Mrs Alamu shared chilling details of how their captors operated to evade the military and regional security forces:
Nighttime Treks: The captors forced the teachers and young children through exhausting, hours-long nocturnal marches to shift locations whenever they suspected security forces were closing in.
Physical Abuse: Young pupils were reportedly beaten into silence, while male teachers were kept in chains and blindfolded throughout much of the captivity.
Extreme Exposure: The hostages spent the vast majority of their 56 days completely exposed to harsh elements, including heavy rain and direct sunlight.
The massive joint security operation, which included the Nigerian Army, police, and local Amotekun forces, successfully squeezed the kidnappers’ logistics networks inside the Old Oyo National Park, forcing them to unconditionally release the hostages.
“I sacrificed so much” — Uncertain future in teaching
Having dedicated 28 years of her life to the classroom, Mrs. Alamu admitted that the psychological scars of the kidnapping have left her questioning her safety in remote rural schools.
With only four years left until her retirement, she remains unsure if she will ever return to the profession.
“With time, maybe I can get over it. But the distance to that school is extremely far, and I have already sacrificed so much just in terms of daily transportation. Coupled with this trauma, I honestly do not know what will happen next.”
The rescued pupils and teachers were treated at the Military Hospital in Ibadan for medical evaluation and psychological support before being reunited with their families.
