The principal of the Oyo school recently rescued from kidnappers has opened up about the terrifying final weeks of her captivity, revealing that she and the other victims lived under constant fear of death as military operations against their captors intensified.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at Antioch Baptist Church in Ogbomoso on Sunday, Mrs. Alamu said the seventh week in captivity was the most challenging because of the sustained air raids carried out by security forces.
“The seventh week was the hardest for us all. That was when the troops increased their air raids. It was so intense and persistent that at a point the fear of the bandits became secondary. We were just praying that missiles would not be accidentally dropped on us. But God kept us because we were so exposed, only covered with polythene bags and grasses,” she said.
She explained that the kidnappers became angry after hearing claims that the government had promised the victims would regain their freedom before the end of the week.
“They had told us the previous week that the governor said that before Friday, the next week, we would be released. So we were calm. But when the air raids started on Tuesday, they became so furious,” she recalled.
Mrs. Alamu said the leader of the kidnappers later summoned her and threatened to kill one of the hostages in response to the military offensive.
“He said, ‘Principal, come.’ I was already shaking because I knew what that could mean. Immediately, he said, ‘See what your government has done. I’m going to kill one of you today.’ I just fell down, rolling on the ground,” she recounted.
She said she begged the commander to reduce the ransom instead of carrying out the threat, telling him the families of the victims could not afford the amount being demanded.
“I said, ‘What your heart is asking for is beyond any of the victims’ families. Just ask for what we can run around for.’ He said, ‘Okay, I will send you a message,’” she added.
Mrs. Alamu also narrated another frightening moment later that night when the captives heard the sound of shovels digging and feared one of them was about to be buried.
“Later in the night, we started hearing shovels working. The two men with us were shouting and pleading. We all knew what that meant. They were about to bury another person. But to the glory of God, they only asked us to move because they could no longer stay in that place,” she said.
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