Bello Hassan, a 15-year-old student who was kidnapped from a school in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area and held captive for 56 days, has stated that the incident won’t deter him from pursuing his education.
According to Naija News, Hassan stated that despite the dread, suffering, and uncertainty he experienced in the kidnappers’ camp, he was still determined to get back to school.
Shortly after being released from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital along with other rescued students and instructors, the adolescent spoke with reporters in Ogbomoso on Wednesday.
After being rescued, the victims were given medical care and psychological support at the hospital.
Hassan remembered that while he was preparing an exam, armed men broke into the school and told the professors and students to follow them into the jungle.
He said that the victims were terrified by the guns and were forced to comply with the attackers.
“I was afraid that my parents were at home and there was no one to save me when I was in captivity,” Hassan stated.
“The shooters broke into the school while I was writing an exam. We were terrified when we saw the guys carrying firearms, so they told us to march out and follow them.
The student claimed that before arriving to the kidnappers’ hideout at around 7 p.m., the victims were made to travel all day.
He claimed that throughout their imprisonment, the kidnappers frequently relocated them.
“We trekked for a day without knowing where they took us,” Hassan remarked. We arrived at their location at approximately 7:00 p.m.
“They spent days moving us from one place to another.”
Prisoners Rested Under Trees
According to Hassan, during their captivity, the victims slept under trees and lived mostly outside.
He clarified that when rain threatened, the kidnappers would occasionally cover them with nylon.
“They cooked rice for us,” Hassan continued. They began cooking for us after asking the women among us to do so.
“We stayed under the tree, so whenever it was going to rain, they covered us with nylon.”
The adolescent claimed that instead of physically abusing the students, the kidnappers frequently flogged their professors.
He continued by saying that the prisoners were kept under strict observation and were not allowed to move around or play.
“The gunmen only flogged our teachers, not beat us,” Hassan stated. They forbade us from having fun or doing everything we wanted.
Asked whether he observed the killing of two teachers named as Mr Michael and Deacon, Hassan said the deaths occurred at another site.
“No, I didn’t see it. He responded, “They were killed somewhere else.
Additionally, he revealed that during the time of captivity, the kidnappers spoke Hausa, English, and other languages.
Hassan claimed that despite the experience, he was no longer terrified and was still open to starting classes in the same location.
“Since my return, I am not afraid,” Hassan continued. I’ll go back to school in the area if God wills.
