By Kolawole Omotola Olaide
The principal of a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has shared a moving account of how she recovered from a serious illness while being held captive by kidnappers, attributing her survival to divine intervention.
Alamu, who was abducted alongside teachers and pupils during the attack on the school, spoke during a thanksgiving service after regaining her freedom. She narrated that she became severely ill while in captivity, leaving fellow victims worried about her condition.
According to her, as her health worsened towards the final days of their ordeal, she decided to approach one of the kidnappers, believed to be the camp commander, to request medication.
She said she specifically asked for two tablets of paracetamol, but another captive warned her that the tablets she received were not paracetamol. Despite the uncertainty, Alamu said she took the medicine in faith, believing God would use it for her healing.
The school principal explained that shortly after taking the tablets, the symptoms she believed were caused by malaria disappeared completely, and she regained her strength while still in the kidnappers’ camp.
Alamu described the experience as a miracle, saying she remains convinced that God preserved her life throughout the traumatic period in the forest.
She expressed gratitude for surviving the weeks-long captivity, noting that the ordeal strengthened her faith and gave her a renewed appreciation for life.
Her testimony comes after she and other victims were rescued following their abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that drew widespread concern across Oyo State and renewed calls for stronger security around schools.
