I Thought I Would Die” – Oyo School Principal Recounts 56 Days In Kidnappers’ Den

Alamu, who was abducted alongside teachers and pupils of the school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, said heavy military air raids around the kidnappers’ camp left the captives fearing they could be killed in the bombardment.

She shared her experience on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at Antioch Baptist Church in Ogbomoso, where she thanked God for preserving her life and reuniting her with her family.

According to her, the military offensive became so intense that the captives temporarily feared the air strikes more than their abductors.

“The seventh week was the most difficult. That was when the troops intensified the air raids. At a point, we were more afraid of the missiles than the bandits. We kept praying that no bomb would accidentally hit us. Despite everything, God gave us peace,” she said.

Alamu revealed that the kidnappers had earlier told the captives that Governor Seyi Makinde had allegedly assured them they would be released before the end of the week, giving them hope before the situation took a dramatic turn.

“They told us the previous week that the governor had promised we would regain our freedom before Friday, so we relaxed. But once the air raids began on Tuesday, the kidnappers became very angry,” she recalled.

Kidnappers Threatened To Kill Hostages

The principal said tensions escalated when the gang’s commander summoned her during the height of the military bombardment.

“I was already trembling because I knew nothing good could come from being called,” she said.

According to Alamu, the commander accused the government of frustrating the group and threatened to execute one of the captives.

“He said, ‘Look at what your government has done. I’m going to kill one of you today.’ I broke down, fell to the ground and cried uncontrollably.”

She pleaded with the kidnappers to spare the remaining hostages.

“I begged them not to take another life. I told him, ‘I came here with four men, only two are left, and you still want to kill someone else. The loss of the others will remain with me forever.’”

Plea To The Gang Leader

Alamu said the commander later softened his stance and asked her what could be done to end the standoff with the authorities.

“He asked me, ‘If your government is doing this, what do you expect me to do?’ I replied that what they were demanding was beyond what the victims’ families could provide and urged them to ask for something realistic.”

She also recalled another frightening moment when the captives heard sounds of digging near their camp.

“Later that night, we heard shovels hitting the ground. The men with us started crying, saying, ‘Mama, talk to them. They’re digging graves.’”

The captives feared they were about to be buried alive, but instead, the kidnappers later ordered everyone to leave the camp.

“They told us to start moving and warned me to stop the children from crying, threatening to kill them if they continued. But how do you tell a two- or three-year-old child not to cry or ask for food?”

Alamu said that throughout the ordeal, she constantly prayed not only for freedom but also for the safety of her family, especially her husband.

“I kept praying that when I returned home, I wouldn’t meet an empty house because I knew my husband’s health condition,” she said.

She explained that surviving the 56-day captivity and reuniting with her loved ones inspired the thanksgiving service she held in gratitude to God.