Olushola Omogbehin
Alamu Folawe, the principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Oyo State, has narrated how abductors killed two of the kidnapped victims during the period of their ordeal in their desperate attempt to make government give them money.
She disclosed this on Monday during the official handover of the rescued teachers and pupils to Governor Seyi Makinde by the Nigerian Army.
She used the occasion to describe their time in captivity as one of fear, uncertainty and emotional trauma.
According to her, the abductors repeatedly tried to break the captives’ resolve by claiming the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their release.
“A relief to us is that Nigerians were praying for us. Many times, they used fear to subdue us.
“At one point, they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us. But there were times we held on to hope that we would come out alive.
“Mr Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the government to give them whatever they wanted,” Folawe said.
Speaking further, she said: “It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case. We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal.”
She appreciated President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the military, other security agencies and Nigerians whose prayers and support sustained hope throughout their captivity.
She was abducted with others on May 15 after armed men attacked Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
