by Idriss LAWAL
For the first time since their release, victims of Oriire kidnapping, were presented to the media, and the public yesterday.
They took turn to talk about their experiences in kidnappers den, and they were cruel and gory.
The accounts were given at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, where the pupils and teachers were handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, in Ibadan.
The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Dada, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, recounted how the pupils were repeatedly beaten by the abductors and how the male teachers had their legs chained.
The male teachers were also blindfolded for most of the period.
Makinde, who promised full support for the pupils and teachers, listed the names of the eight people who died during the abduction and rescue operation.
The GOC also recounted the operation that led to the rescue of the victims.
In his broadcast, the governor gave the names of those who died as teachers: Adesiyan Adegboye, Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye.
The Amotekun operatives were Mrs. Adigun Saibu, Isa Saliu and Rafiu Ayuba.
The military casualties were Lt. F.A. Isaac and an unnamed soldier.
The governor advocated an international probe, involving the United Nations, into the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
Mrs. Alamu told reporters that they were driven into the forest on about 10 motorcycles through rough paths for more than four hours.
“They brought motorcycles, about 10 of them. So, we were packed there. And we rode for more than four hours on rough paths, but they knew their way,” the principal narrated.
She added that while in the forest, the abductors occasionally moved them from one location to another whenever they sensed danger.
According to her, the movements sometimes lasted more than 12 hours and, at other times, three or four hours.
“At one point, the kidnappers started moving us from one point to another. That was a major problem we had because the movements used to start around 7 a.m. and end around 8 p.m.
“Sometimes, we walked for three or four hours. That is what caused most of the bruises you see on our bodies,” she added.
Asked how the children coped during such movements, she responded: “The girls, that is, my secondary school girls, used to carry them: Salam, Waliyat and Testimony. The other ones walked. We used to fall sometimes.”
According to her, the children were beaten by the kidnappers for making noise because the abductors believed noise would attract attention.
She added that the male teachers were blindfolded and had their legs chained for most of the period.
She, however, ruled out any molestation of the women by the abductors.
Mrs. Alamu described the executions as a calculated strategy to terrorise the captives and force concessions from the authorities.
Recounting their ordeal, the visibly emotional principal said the kidnappers subjected them to relentless psychological torture in addition to the physical hardship they endured in the forest.
According to her, the first victim, identified as Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was killed on the second day of their captivity.
Another teacher, identified as Deacon Adesiyan Adegboye, was executed on the first Sunday in June.
She said: “Mr. Michael was killed on the second day of our stay, but Deacon was killed on the first Sunday of June.
“They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the hand of the government to give them whatever they wanted.”
Mrs. Alamu said the kidnappers repeatedly told the captives that they had been abandoned and that the government no longer cared about their fate.
“So many times they used fear to subdue us. At one point, they told us that the government would not be interested in our case again because they did not value us,” she said.
Despite the intimidation, she said the victims refused to give up hope, drawing strength from their faith and the belief that people were praying for their safe return.
