The Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, on Sunday returned to church to offer thanksgiving after regaining her freedom alongside 43 other abductees who spent nearly two months in captivity.
According to The Nation, Mrs. Alamu and the other victims were kidnapped on May 15 before they were rescued by operatives of the National Park on July 10, ending a 56-day ordeal in the terrorists’ camp.
The thanksgiving service, held at Antioch Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, was attended by family members, church members, friends and other well-wishers who gathered to celebrate their safe return.
Sharing her experience with the congregation, the school principal described the final weeks in captivity as the most terrifying, especially when security forces intensified aerial operations around the terrorists’ hideout.
According to her, the bombardments became so frequent that the captives found themselves caught between two dangers.
“The seventh week was the hardest for us all. That was when the troops intensified their air raids. It became so intense that our fear of the bandits became secondary. We were only praying that missiles would not mistakenly hit us.”
She explained that the captives had little protection, surviving under makeshift shelters covered with polythene sheets and grass while hoping to escape both the terrorists and the military bombardments.
Mrs. Alamu recalled that the abductees had earlier received information that they could regain their freedom before the end of that week, giving them hope. However, the heavy air raids dramatically changed the atmosphere in the camp.
She narrated that the commander of the armed group later summoned her and blamed the government for the military offensive, threatening to execute one of the captives in retaliation.
“He called me and said, ‘See what your government has done. I’m going to kill one of you today.'”
The threat, she said, left her devastated as she pleaded with the commander, reminding him that two members of her group had already been killed and begging that no further lives be taken.
Mrs. Alamu said she appealed to the commander to make only demands that the victims’ families could realistically meet rather than resorting to more killings. Although he told her he would communicate his decision later, fear spread through the camp that night after the captives heard people digging with shovels nearby.
She said everyone believed another execution was imminent, while those marked as possible victims cried out and pleaded for mercy.
To their relief, the terrorists eventually abandoned the location instead of carrying out the threat, explaining that they also needed to relocate because of the increasing military pressure.
Mrs. Alamu added that despite the constant danger, the captives encouraged one another to remain strong and avoid actions that could provoke the terrorists.
According to her, some of the victims would tell her they were prepared to make sacrifices if necessary, insisting that the gunmen could not wipe out everyone.
The emotional testimony drew prayers and thanksgiving from members of the congregation, who celebrated the safe return of Mrs. Alamu and the other rescued victims after weeks of uncertainty.
“How do you tell a one-year, three-month-old baby not to cry? How do you tell a two-year-old child not to ask for food? During those periods, they were not free to cook because they were afraid.
“They were afraid that the smoke would give away their location.
“So, we went hungry most of the time. But to the glory of God, we left that camp for the last camp before we were rescued and released.”