Relief at returning home has quickly given way to haunting memories for survivors of the Oriire school abduction in Oyo State. In her first detailed account of the ordeal, rescued principal Mrs Rachael Alamu revealed that male teachers endured the harshest treatment in captivity, with some reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed, chained and restrained for weeks, while terrified pupils were beaten into silence and left with emotional scars. Joke Kujenya, reports.
THEIR FIRST embrace lasted longer than anyone expected. An average person could feel the warmth from afar.
Some parents held their children so tightly that they seemed afraid to let go again.
Others simply cried, overwhelmed by the reality of a moment they had spent weeks praying for but feared might never come.
Teachers who returned from captivity stood quietly beside colleagues who welcomed them home.
There were really no perfect words for what they had survived.
In Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the celebration of freedom came with tears because everyone understood that those who returned had not only escaped kidnappers, but they had also carried home memories of fear, pain and uncertainty.
For weeks, indeed for 56 days, the nation followed the disappearance of the pupils and teachers.
Also, many Nigerians waited for updates, hoping for good news while families lived through endless days of anxiety.
Then came the return.
But freedom did not erase what happened inside the kidnappers’ hideout.
Then, behind the relief and thanksgiving were stories of children who cried for their parents, teachers who endured unimaginable physical suffering and a community forced to confront the frightening reality that a school, a place meant for learning and safety, had become a place of terror.
Reliving the survivors’ accounts revealed a disturbing picture of life in captivity: children whose mouths were tied to stop them from crying out, male teachers who spent days blindfolded and restrained, and the painful memory of a colleague, beheaded Michael Oyedokun, who reportedly did not survive the ordeal.
At last, their return ended the waiting.
But their healing journey had only begun. . .
Two Male Teachers Killed During Captivity
The lead teacher, Mrs Rachael Alamu revealed that kidnappers executed two captives, claiming the killings were intended to compel the government to accede to their demands.
Throughout their captivity, she said, the kidnappers repeatedly sought to convince the victims that rescue efforts had been abandoned, telling them that neither the government nor anyone else was interested in securing their release.
According to her, the captives resisted despair by encouraging one another and clinging to the belief that they would eventually return home.
Alamu said the most devastating moments came when the abductors killed two of the hostages, identified only as Mr. Michael and Deacon.
“Mr Michael was killed on the second day, while Deacon was killed on the first Sunday in June,” she said, adding that the kidnappers believed the executions would increase pressure on the authorities to meet their demands.
She added that the victims had no idea the abduction had attracted widespread public attention until they regained their freedom.
“It was until we got out that we discovered the whole world was on our case,” Alamu said. “We have scars already, but we believe with time we will heal.”
The Silence Inside Captivity
For the children, the experience was marked by fear and confusion, recounted Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the lead teacher with them all.
Separated from their families, surrounded by armed men and uncertain about what would happen next, the pupils depended on the teachers around them for comfort and protection.
The rescued principal, while recounting the ordeal, described the harsh treatment the children endured.
According to her account, the kidnappers used intimidation and violence to control the frightened pupils.
At moments when the children could no longer contain their fear, their mouths were reportedly tied, and they were beaten to force them into silence.
The cruelty was not limited to the children as she narrated
The male teachers who were taken alongside them faced some of the harshest conditions during the captivity.
“The male teachers had it worse than us,” Principal Alamu said.
She explained that the men were blindfolded, handcuffed, chained and restrained for much of the ordeal, with only two eventually remaining after the others were released.
Their suffering was hidden from the outside world while their families waited without knowing whether they would ever see them again.
The Cruel Comfort Of Biscuits
One of the most painful details from Mrs Alamu’s account was the way the kidnappers attempted to create a temporary sense of normalcy among the children.
During the first week of captivity, the abductors gave the children biscuits, she said.
For the children, it may have appeared like a small act of kindness in a terrifying environment.
But it was surrounded by fear. They were still far away from home.
Their parents were still searching and praying while their teachers were struggling hard to keep them safe and at the same time. battling their own fears.
However, the biscuits could not hide the reality of captivity and could not replace the comfort of their families and homes.
They could not remove the fear of wondering whether they would ever return home. You could see that on the faces of all the children while it lasted.
Remembering The Teacher Who Never Returned
Among the darkest memories of the incident was the death of teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded barely two days after abduction.
For each of the survivors, the teacher’s death became a painful reminder that their journey could have ended differently.
And for the community, his name became connected to the tragedy as a symbol of the human cost behind kidnapping statistics and security reports.
As such, every successful rescue carries a painful truth: some families receive their loved ones back, while others receive only grief.
A Homecoming Filled With Joy And Wounds
When the rescued victims were visited at the military hospital in Ibadan by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the meeting became an opportunity for them to share what they had endured.
The monarch was accompanied by the Alaajawa of Ajaawa, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji; the Onisapa of Isapa, Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide; and Senator Fatai Buhari.
As they narrated their experiences, their stories revealed the emotional and physical burden they carried.
Oba Olaoye celebrated their return but also warned that the rescue should not make Nigerians forget others who remain in captivity across the country.
For him, the freedom of the Oriire victims was both a victory and a reminder of a larger national crisis.
A Community Breathing Again, But Still Afraid
Across Oriire, residents welcomed the rescued abductees with gratitude to God and Nigeria’s leaders.
But beneath the celebrations was a lingering question:
Could this happen again?
Many residents even expressed the believe that lasting peace will require more than celebrating a successful rescue.
They want stronger security structures that will prevent another attack.
Community leaders thus urged authorities to ensure that the newly established military base in the area remains functional.
For them, the presence of security forces represents more than protection, it would instill confidence for families who must send their children to school every day.
On a larger scale, they described the rescue as a historic moment while encouraging residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security agencies.
Families That Refused To Stop Hoping
For relatives of the abductess, the weeks before the rescue were filled with sleeplessness and fear.
Prof. Wole Alamu, husband of the principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, said there were moments when the family feared the worst.
The rescue brought relief, but it also reminded them of the emotional battle that families of kidnapped persons endure.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies, Amotekun Corps, traditional rulers, religious leaders, local vigilantes, LAUTECH, media organisations and Nigerians who supported the families throughout the crisis.
The rescue, he acknowledged, was not the achievement of one person or institution.
It was the result of many people refusing to abandon those who were missing.
After The Rescue: The Bigger Question
The return of the Oriire pupils and teachers has reopened an uncomfortable national conversation:
Are Nigerian schools truly safe?
For many rural communities, schools remain vulnerable because they are located far from security installations and often lack emergency protection systems.
Experts have repeatedly argued that preventing future attacks requires more than rescue operations after kidnappings occur.
They have called for stronger intelligence networks, community security partnerships, emergency communication systems, improved school infrastructure and effective implementation of safe-school policies.
Because for parents, the question is not only whether their children can return home after an attack.
The question is whether they should ever have been in danger in the first place.
Protecting The Victory
Following the incident, the Oyo State Government supported troops stationed at the newly established military base in Ikoyi-Ile with food items, bedding, bottled water and other supplies.
However, security personnel have highlighted additional needs, including communication equipment, operational vehicles, medical supplies, clean water and better accommodation.
Their demands reflect a reality often overlooked by top government functionaries after security crises: maintaining safety requires continuous resources, not temporary attention after tragedy strikes.
A Story That Must Not End Here
The rescue of the Oriire victims has been praised by several groups, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).
They commended the combined efforts of the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, police, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes.
But the message from many stakeholders remains the same: The rescue is not the end of the story.
For the children and teachers who returned home, recovery will take time.
They would need help to rebuild their confidence, process their memories and learn to feel safe again.
Their experience has also shown the world the human face of kidnapping, not just the headlines, not just the numbers, but the lives behind them.
The Oriire survivors came home.
But their story remains a warning that no child should have to experience fear inside a classroom, and no community should have to choose between educating its children and protecting their lives.
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