A 15-year-old student, Bello Hassan, who was among those abducted during a terrorist attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has shared the traumatic experience he endured after spending 56 days in captivity.
Speaking to journalists after receiving medical attention following his release, Hassan said he constantly feared for his life because he was separated from his parents throughout the ordeal. He explained that he and other students were writing an examination when armed attackers stormed their school.
According to him, the gunmen ordered everyone to leave the classrooms and follow them into the forest. Out of fear for the weapons they carried, the students obeyed without resistance.
Hassan recalled that the captives trekked for an entire day before arriving at the terrorists’ hideout around 7 p.m. He added that they were repeatedly moved from one location to another in an apparent effort by the kidnappers to avoid being tracked by security forces.
The teenager said the abductors initially asked some of the female captives to prepare meals before later taking over the cooking themselves. He noted that they were mainly fed rice and lived outdoors under trees, with the terrorists covering them with nylon sheets whenever it rained.
Speaking about the late teacher, Michael Oyedokun, Hassan said he did not witness the teacher’s execution because he had been taken away to another location. He said the captives only heard his voice before the terrorists returned without him.
Hassan also explained that the clean clothes seen on the rescued victims were provided after they regained freedom in Ibadan, not the ones they wore during captivity.
Although he remains uncertain about returning to school immediately, the teenager said he is no longer living in fear and hopes to continue his education when the time is right.
