When We Started, They Were Bringing Biscuits For Children; But Along The Line, That Stopped -Alamu

Mrs. Rachael Folake Alamu, the principal of the Oyo school recently rescued after spending 56 days in captivity, has narrated the challenges she and other adults faced while caring for abducted children in the kidnappers’ den. Alamu shared the account while speaking to TVC News on Monday, July 13, 2026.

According to the rescued principal, the kidnappers initially provided biscuits to the children during the first week of their captivity, apparently to make them more comfortable, but the gesture did not last.

“We sacked them off. When we started, the first week, they were bringing biscuits for them. Maybe to make them comfortable. But along the line, that stopped,” she said.

Alamu explained that one of the greatest challenges the captives faced was being forced to relocate frequently whenever the kidnappers suspected that their location had been exposed.

“Then we had to move from one point to another. And that was a major problem we had. When the place is discovered, we have to move. And that starts around 7, 8 in the night. Sometimes we walk three, four hours. That is most of the bruises you see on our bodies,” she recounted.

She said the frequent night-time journeys through the forest left many of the victims with injuries and bruises as they struggled to keep up with the kidnappers’ pace.

Alamu also described how the group worked together to care for the youngest children during the exhausting movements, with older pupils taking responsibility for carrying toddlers who were unable to cope with the long treks.

“They carry the last three. Salam, Waliya, and Testimony. The secondary school girls will carry the three. The other ones will have to walk. We fall sometimes. A lot,” she said…....