Oyo School Principal recounts 58-Day captivity, says pupils were given biscuits before abduction ordeal (Video)

The principal of the Oyo State school whose staff and pupils were abducted in May has recounted the traumatic 58 days they spent in the custody of kidnappers, revealing details of the frightening experience and the conditions they endured while in captivity.

Speaking about the incident, the principal described the ordeal as one of the most difficult periods of her life, saying both the pupils and members of staff faced intense fear and uncertainty throughout the nearly two-month captivity.

She disclosed that, contrary to widespread concerns, the female victims were not sexually assaulted during their detention. However, she said the male teachers suffered more severe physical abuse at the hands of the kidnappers.

According to her, the abductors blindfolded and chained the male teachers, subjecting them to harsher treatment while the women and children were held under close watch.

The principal also narrated how the kidnappers attempted to calm the frightened children shortly after the abduction by giving them biscuits before the reality of their captivity became apparent.

She said the gesture initially eased the children’s anxiety, but it quickly gave way to fear as the victims realised they had been taken deep into captivity with no certainty of when they would regain their freedom.

The principal noted that the 58-day ordeal left lasting emotional and psychological scars on both the pupils and members of staff, adding that the experience underscored the growing security challenges confronting schools across Nigeria.

Her account has renewed concerns over the safety of students, teachers and educational institutions, with stakeholders calling for stronger security measures to protect schools from criminal attacks and mass abductions.

The kidnapping, which attracted widespread public attention when it occurred in May, is among a series of attacks on educational institutions that have heightened fears about the security of schoolchildren and educators in different parts of the country.

Authorities continue to face mounting pressure to strengthen security and prevent similar incidents.