The abducted Oyo principal, Mrs. Alamu, has narrated the painful experience she endured after being held captive by suspected kidnappers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the ordeal as one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service attended by family members and worshippers after her release, the school principal recounted how she relied on faith to survive the weeks she spent in the kidnappers’ camp.
She said her greatest prayer throughout the ordeal was that she would not lose her life in the forest. “I prayed to God that my grave should not be in the forest,” she said during her testimony.
Seventh Week Became the Most Difficult
According to Mrs. Alamu, the seventh week in captivity proved to be the most frightening as intense military operations took place close to the kidnappers’ hideout.
She explained that the sound of heavy bombardments left the captives terrified, fearing they could be caught in the crossfire.
She also claimed that the kidnappers became enraged after believing that government authorities had made promises regarding their release that were not fulfilled.
The situation reportedly escalated when the leader of the camp summoned her and threatened to execute one of the captives.
“The seventh week was the hardest for us all. The commander called me and said, ‘See what your government has done. I’m going to kill one of you today.’ I just fell on the ground crying and begging him,” she recalled.
Mrs. Alamu further disclosed that moments later, they heard the sound of shovels, leaving everyone convinced that one of the hostages was about to be buried.
Instead, the kidnappers reportedly ordered the captives to relocate to another camp after suspecting security forces had traced their location.
Illness, Prayer and a Miraculous Release
The abducted Oyo principal also revealed that she battled a serious illness while in captivity, but said she unexpectedly recovered after taking just two tablets of paracetamol.
She described the recovery as nothing short of divine intervention, adding that it strengthened her faith while she waited for freedom.
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“At one point, I became seriously ill, but after taking two tablets of paracetamol, it was as if I had never been sick. The release was miraculous,” she said.
Her testimony drew emotional reactions from members of the congregation, many of whom expressed gratitude for her safe return and praised God for preserving the lives of those who survived the traumatic experience.
The account has also renewed conversations about insecurity, kidnapping and the dangers faced by residents in parts of the country, with many Nigerians calling for stronger measures to protect schools and communities from criminal attacks.
