Why Abducted Oyo Teachers Were Killed By Kidnappers — Rescued School Principal Reveals More

• The rescued principal of Community High School in Oyo State has revealed that kidnappers deliberately killed two teachers during their 56-day captivity to pressure the government into meeting their demands.

The rescued principal of Community High School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has revealed why kidnappers killed two teachers during the group’s 56-day captivity.

Speaking on Monday after she, other rescued teachers and pupils were received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Oyo State Government House, Alamu said the abductors deliberately murdered the teachers to force the government to meet their demands.

According to her, the kidnappers believed the killings would increase public pressure on authorities to negotiate with them.

“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,” she said.

The slain teachers were Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher who was reportedly beheaded on the second day of captivity, and Mr. Esiyan Adegboye, 49, who was shot during the attack on the school. Adegboye was buried in Ogbomoso on May 22.

Alamu described the emotional trauma the victims endured, saying they constantly hoped they would all return home alive despite the terrifying conditions.

“There were times we believed we would all come out alive. We have scars already, but we believe God will heal us. We appreciate everyone who contributed to our rescue,” she said.

She also recounted how the captives spent most of their time in the open forest, enduring harsh weather conditions while trying to keep the children safe and emotionally strong.

According to the principal, younger pupils were beaten whenever they cried because the kidnappers feared the noise could expose their location.

The rescued teachers and pupils were officially handed over to the Oyo State Government by the Federal Government after security agencies secured their release following more than 50 days in captivity.

Before the handover, the victims received medical treatment and psychosocial support at the Military Hospital in Ibadan, where Governor Seyi Makinde visited them.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, also visited the survivors at the hospital following their rescue.