A 15-year-old pupil, Bello Hassan, who was among the pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Wednesday, recounted his 56-day ordeal in captivity with a message of courage, saying, “I’m not afraid to return to school.”
The minor described how he and other victims trekked for an entire day to the kidnappers’ camp and lived under trees before they were rescued.
Hassan spoke with journalists in Ogbomoso on Wednesday shortly after he and other rescued pupils and teachers were released from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, where they had received medical treatment and psychological support.
The pupil recalled that he was writing a test when armed men stormed his school and forced the pupils and teachers into the forest at gunpoint.
“When I was in captivity, I was scared that my parents were at home and there was nobody to save me. I was in school writing a test when the gunmen invaded the school. When we saw the guns with the gunmen, we were scared, and they ordered us to march out and follow them,” he said.
According to Hassan, the victims trekked throughout the day before arriving at the kidnappers’ hideout around 7 p.m., after which they were moved from one camp to another.
“We didn’t know where they took us, and we trekked for a day. We got to their location around 7 p.m. They moved us from one location to another for days,” he said.
He said the abductors initially asked the female victims to prepare meals before taking over the cooking themselves.
“They cooked rice for us. They asked the females among us to cook for us, and later they started cooking for us. Whenever rain was about to fall, they covered us with nylon because we stayed under the tree,” Hassan said.
The teenager explained that although the kidnappers did not physically assault the pupils, they regularly flogged the teachers and imposed strict restrictions on the captives.
“The gunmen didn’t beat us, but only flogged our teachers. They didn’t allow us to play around or do whatever we liked,” he added.
Asked whether he witnessed the killing of two teachers, identified simply as Mr Michael and Deacon, Hassan said he did not, explaining that they were killed at a different location.
“No, I didn’t witness it. They were killed in another place,” he said.
Hassan also disclosed that the abductors communicated in English, Hausa and other languages.
Despite the traumatic experience, the teenager said he was not afraid to resume his education.
“Since my return, I am not afraid. If God wills, I will return to school in the area,” he said.
Hassan was among the 44 pupils and teachers rescued on July 10 after spending 56 days in captivity following the May 15 attack on three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
The victims were subsequently admitted to the LAUTECH teaching hospital, Ogbomoso, for medical evaluation and psychological rehabilitation before being discharged.
The PUNCH