Mrs Rachael Folake Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, struggled to hold back tears as fellow teachers honoured her after an ordeal that saw her spend 56 days in kidnappers’ captivity.
At a special Teachers’ Day award ceremony organised by the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Alamu was recognised for her courage, resilience and commitment to her pupils during captivity.
The emotional moment brought back memories of the May 15 attack on schools in the Ahoro-Esiele area, when armed kidnappers abducted teachers and schoolchildren, leaving their families and communities facing weeks of fear and uncertainty.
Alamu was among those taken into the forest. She regained her freedom alongside other captives in July after 56 days, following a coordinated security operation.
Two teachers, however, did not survive the ordeal. According to Alamu’s account after her release, they were killed while in captivity.
Recounting her experience, the principal said the abductors repeatedly moved their victims through dense forests whenever they suspected security operatives were approaching.
She said the captives were sometimes forced to set out at about 7pm or 8pm, walking for three to four hours through difficult terrain.
For the schoolchildren, the journeys were particularly exhausting. Older pupils helped carry younger ones, while the youngest children were occasionally carried by the kidnappers.
Beyond the forced movements, Alamu said the victims spent much of their captivity without adequate shelter, exposed to harsh weather.
“We were in the forest, in the open most of the time, under the sun and under the rain with the children,” she recalled.
After nearly three decades in teaching, the experience left Alamu uncertain about returning to a similarly remote school environment.
Speaking after her release, she said she had about four years remaining in service but would need time to recover before considering such a posting again.
Her recognition at the Teachers’ Day ceremony placed the sacrifices of teachers in vulnerable communities in focus, alongside the lasting effects of the attack on those who survived.
Following their release, the rescued teachers and pupils underwent medical evaluation and counselling. The state government also said they would remain under observation before being reunited with their families.
For Alamu, the award was an acknowledgement by her colleagues of the courage she showed through weeks of fear, hardship and loss.
Her experience remains a reminder of the need to protect teachers and pupils, provide support for survivors and ensure that schools in rural communities are safe places to teach and learn.
