For more than seven weeks, every sunrise in the forest brought fresh uncertainty for Mrs Rachael Alamu, the principal of a secondary school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Surrounded by armed kidnappers, battling hunger, illness and the constant fear of death, she said her greatest prayer was not for wealth or comfort—but simply that she would not lose her life in captivity.
“I prayed that my grave would not be in the forest,” she recalled during an emotional thanksgiving service held at Antioch Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, shortly after regaining her freedom. Her testimony offered one of the most detailed accounts yet of the psychological and physical trauma endured by victims of school-related abductions in Nigeria.
Mrs Alamu was among the teachers and pupils abducted when armed men attacked a school in Oyo State earlier this year, an incident that reignited concerns over the safety of students, teachers and school administrators, particularly in rural communities where security challenges remain significant.
Recounting the weeks spent in captivity, the principal described the final phase of the ordeal as the most terrifying. According to her, military operations against the kidnappers intensified during the seventh week, with aircraft conducting airstrikes and surveillance over the forest. Although the operations were aimed at rescuing the hostages and weakening the criminals, those held captive feared they could be caught in the crossfire.
The situation inside the camp, she said, became increasingly desperate as food supplies dwindled and health conditions deteriorated. Living under harsh weather, with little access to medical care and uncertain about what each day would bring, many of the captives struggled to maintain hope while repeatedly facing threats from their abductors.
Despite the difficult conditions, Mrs Alamu said faith became her greatest source of strength. Throughout the period of captivity, she continued to pray for survival, believing that she would eventually return home to reunite with her family, colleagues and students. Her testimony reflected not only the emotional burden carried by victims of kidnapping but also the resilience many display in the face of prolonged uncertainty.
The principal’s husband, Professor Wole Alamu, also shared his own experience of the crisis, revealing the emotional toll the kidnapping took on their family. According to him, repeated telephone conversations with the abductors during ransom negotiations became so distressing that they began affecting his health. He disclosed that he eventually blocked some of the kidnappers’ telephone numbers after developing dangerously high blood pressure as a result of the constant threats and psychological pressure.
Professor Alamu, however, praised the swift response mounted by security agencies after the attack. He said senior military officers and police personnel arrived at the scene shortly after receiving reports of the abduction, while helicopters were deployed to search the surrounding forests as efforts intensified to locate the victims. He attributed his wife’s eventual rescue to divine intervention and the dedication of the security personnel involved in the operation.
The abduction and subsequent rescue have once again drawn attention to the growing security risks confronting educational institutions in parts of Nigeria. Over the past few years, schools have increasingly become targets for criminal groups seeking ransom, forcing governments at various levels to strengthen school protection measures and improve collaboration among security agencies.
Education experts have repeatedly warned that attacks on schools extend beyond the immediate victims. They disrupt learning, traumatise students and teachers, discourage school attendance and place additional pressure on already stretched education systems. They argue that ensuring the safety of schools is fundamental to guaranteeing every child’s constitutional right to education.
The emotional testimony delivered by Mrs Alamu has resonated with many Nigerians because it highlights the human cost of insecurity. Behind every kidnapping statistic are teachers separated from their families, students whose education is interrupted and communities left to grapple with fear and uncertainty.
While expressing gratitude for her safe return, the principal also offered words of encouragement to others facing difficult circumstances, urging them to remain steadfast in hope and faith. Her story, marked by weeks of fear and resilience, has become a powerful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen security around schools so that teachers can educate and students can learn without the constant threat of violence.
