Mrs Rachael Alamu says terrorists murdered the teachers to pressure government during the 56-day captivity of pupils and staff.
The rescued principal of Community High School, Oriire, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has revealed that the kidnappers killed two teachers in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands during the 56-day abduction ordeal.
Speaking after she and the other rescued pupils and teachers were received by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House in Ibadan on Monday, Alamu said the abductors deliberately executed the victims because they knew the case had attracted national and international attention.
According to her, Mathematics teacher Mr Michael Oyedokun was beheaded on the second day of the abduction, while Deacon Esiyan Adegboye was killed on the first Sunday of June. Adegboye, who was shot during the attack on the school, was buried in Ogbomoso on May 22.
Alamu said, “They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the hand of the government to provide them whatever they wanted. They already knew that the whole world was interested in our case.”
The principal described the period in captivity as extremely difficult, explaining that the victims spent most of the time in the open forest, exposed to rain, sun and harsh conditions while trying to keep the children calm and hopeful.
She added that although she was not physically assaulted, many of the younger pupils were severely beaten whenever they cried or made noise.
The rescued victims were formally handed over to the Oyo State Government after security agencies secured their freedom following weeks of coordinated operations across the Old Oyo National Park and surrounding forests.
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