We stooled blood, slept in the open, our children went naked for days

Oriire Local Government’s teachers, students and children, recently rescued from terrorists, shared more gruesome experiences they endured in captivity.

The rescued kidnapped teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are still recounting their experiences during their 56 days in captivity. Even though the victims sometimes try to block out their memories, the scars of their old sores will always serve as reminders of the pains they experienced during the process of healing.

As much as the victims are trying to put behind them the gory experience, the various encounters with the kidnappers, the wild animals and the insects of different species continue to linger.

To the victims, recounting their experiences, which some people are still doubting, amounts to repeating themselves at every function they are called upon to give testimonies about their captivity.

Even though the testimonies of their abduction and rescue after 56 days by the combined security operatives are all over the place, there are still untold stories.

Mrs Rachel Alamu, the Principal of Community Grammar School, Ahoro Esienle, Mrs Oluwakemi Oladeji, a teacher, and one of the pupils, in their testimonies during the presentation of N6 million cash by retired and serving lecturers of the University of Ibadan in Ogbomoso, explained how they were bitten by scorpions and constantly threatened by insects of different species.

Mrs Alamu’s narrative of 56 days in the jungle

Sometimes it will look as if we are repeating ourselves—we can’t help but say what God has done for us. It will be an understatement to say that God rescued us. There are a lot of things that went on in that forest that recounting them will be like reliving them.

Sometimes, I deliberately tried to block my memory to forget about them. There are things we didn’t talk about. What I will talk about today is not even about human beings, maybe not even wildlife. It is about the insects, creatures of different shades, different colours and different species.

Sometimes, when we were about to sleep, we would just lie down. When you closed your eyes, considering the kind of things you saw during the day, you wondered what would happen in the night. To the glory of God, there was no major incident that befell us.

There was a time my Vice Principal was stung by a scorpion during our movement from one end of the forest to the other, but we thank God it was not as serious as we anticipated.

The way God protected us cannot be explained. We were kept in an open place and made to sleep on mats under the trees. It was not even convenient, but God protected us throughout.

When you opened your eyes, maybe after sleeping for two or three hours, and saw the sky, you would say, ‘God, thank you.’ Another thing that keeps moving in my heart, and for which I thank God, is the way He kept these children. You cannot imagine what they were exposed to. People were talking about them washing their clothes, but they didn’t know the story behind it.

READ ALSO: Oriire: We feared military airstrikes more than kidnappers — Rescued Oyo principal

There was an air raid in the seventh week. We couldn’t move. We were forced to stay at a particular location. Some of the children had no option but to soil their clothes when they were pressed. By the time we got to the final destination, almost all of them didn’t have anything on because they had soiled their clothes. Everywhere was smelling. They had no option but to do what they had to do. So many people have misinterpreted that. ‘Ah, they are bathing them,’ ‘they are doing this,’ ‘they are doing that.’ But these children, God really showed up for them.

Some days we were so uncertain that even when we woke up, we didn’t know what would happen in the next few hours because sometimes they would just come and pick some people. Once they did, we would start crying because we didn’t know who they would pick, even though we always prayed that they would not pick anybody.

Sometimes when we took breakfast in the morning, we didn’t know if there would be dinner. Sometimes, when I looked at these children, I would just cry because so many of them were so emaciated that their bones were showing all over their bodies, including the teachers.

There was a particular time I went to ease myself. When I looked at myself, I cried because I knew this was not me. Sometimes, when I remembered that I left a baby at home, it gave me serious concern. But now we give all the glory, honour and adoration to Almighty God.

Sometimes many of us broke down, and many of us were stooling. At some point, I stooled blood. They gave me a particular drug with no name. I took the drug in faith, and it worked for me.

There was a time the principal was also ill. They gave her a particular drug, and it worked for her. There were countless times when many of us broke down, but I believe it was God who helped us because sometimes they would tell us that the government had forgotten us. It was not until we came out that we knew we had not been forgotten, that the world had been praying for us. Sometimes they would even tell us that the whole world was talking about our case.

We just thank God. We give glory, honour and adoration to Almighty God for keeping us throughout this period because it wasn’t easy. We believe it was an answered prayer.

Pupil’s account of the incident

On Friday, they took us into the bush. Sometimes we wouldn’t eat until the next morning. (Crying).

University of Ibadan intervention

Over 284 serving and retired academic staff of the University of Ibadan have joined the rehabilitation process of the rescued kidnapped victims with a donation of N6 million.

Its Ad Hoc Committee on Support for the Victims, led by Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, said the intervention was aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of the rescued victims, noting the traumatic experiences they had while in captivity.

“Our gathering today is both sombre and celebratory. It reminds us of the insecurity confronting our nation, but it also celebrates…

“The intervention was intended to complement ongoing rehabilitation efforts and reassure the victims that they were not alone.

He stated that what the rescued victims, including the underage ones, went through during their 56 days in captivity inside the National Park Forest was better imagined than experienced.

Also, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola said, “We are standing with you to let you know that you are not alone. We are happy to celebrate with you and rejoice over your safe return,” she said.

On her part, Prof. Emeke said the money was a demonstration of humanity by the academics. She urged the victims to accept the token.

Also speaking, Prof. Adeogun commended the principal and teachers for their resilience throughout the ordeal and prayed for divine comfort for the families that lost their loved ones.

“We thank God for preserving your lives. We also appreciate the principal for standing as both a mother and a father during the difficult period.”