Inside 56 days of terror: Survivor details Oyedokun’s final moments [video]

A survivor of the recent mass abduction in Oyo State has recounted the harrowing 56-day ordeal endured by the victims, alleging that two fellow captives were executed by their abductors for alleged disobedience and suspected military-related reasons.

Speaking after regaining freedom, one of the released victims, Mr. Zaccheus Olatunde, described the conditions in captivity as brutal, saying the hostages were chained, blindfolded, frequently beaten and denied the freedom to pray throughout their stay in the forest.

According to Olatunde, one of the victims, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was allegedly killed after terrorists accused him of disobeying an order to surrender his mobile phone when the victims were first taken into the forest.

He said the abductors instructed all captives to drop their phones, but later discovered that Oyedokun still had one in his pocket.

“A terrorist sitting with him on the motorcycle found the phone and confronted him. After slapping him, the matter was reported to their commander, who became furious and declared that someone had to die for disobeying his order,” Olatunde recounted.

He alleged that the following day, the teacher was taken away and killed.

“He cried out and begged as they dragged him away. We heard his voice until it suddenly went silent,” he said.

Olatunde further alleged that another victim, Mr. John Olaleye, was killed on June 7 after the kidnappers claimed they had warned security forces against advancing toward their location.

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According to him, neither execution took place in the presence of the remaining captives, as the victims were taken to separate locations before being killed.

Harsh Conditions in Captivity

The survivor described life in captivity as physically and psychologically traumatic.

He said the victims were held inside tents, chained and handcuffed throughout the 56-day ordeal while being moved from one forest location to another to evade security forces.

“Our eyes were blindfolded most of the time. Even when we wanted to use the toilet, we had to beg them. Sometimes they beat us with guns,” he said.

Olatunde added that the captives were often punished collectively for the actions of younger children among them.

Food, he said, consisted mainly of plain rice or rice mixed with palm oil, with little or no seasoning.

“There was only one occasion they gave us meat after killing a deer and a grasscutter,” he recalled.

Religious Restrictions

Olatunde also claimed the kidnappers observed strict Islamic prayer routines and regularly recited the Quran, while allegedly prohibiting Christian worship among the captives.

“They prayed regularly and never missed their prayer times or Quran recitations,” he said.

However, he alleged that any captive caught praying or calling on Jesus was beaten.

“They warned us not to pray. Whenever they caught anyone praying, they beat the person severely,” he alleged.

Demand Was Prisoner Release, Not Ransom

Contrary to the widespread perception that kidnappings are primarily financially motivated, Olatunde claimed the abductors repeatedly insisted that their principal demand was the release of their detained members rather than payment of ransom.

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According to him, the kidnappers eventually decided to release the hostages after learning that security forces had detained some of their relatives during ongoing military operations.

“They told us to leave because soldiers had taken their families. They said if they released us, perhaps their own people would also be released,” he said.

Before setting the captives free, the terrorists reportedly directed them along a route leading to two streams, telling them they would eventually meet waiting security personnel.

Olatunde said many of the children were too weak to walk after weeks in captivity, forcing him to carry several of them until they reached the soldiers.

Identification of Suspects

Following their rescue and return to Ibadan, Olatunde said military officers showed him photographs of suspected terrorists.

“I was able to identify one of them. The officers told me eight suspects had been arrested while others had been neutralised,” he said.

Gratitude Mixed With Grief

While expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal, Olatunde said the joy of freedom remained incomplete because two fellow captives did not return home.

“We thank God that we survived, but we are deeply saddened that Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye could not come back with us,” he said.

Background

The victims were among a group of adults and schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State during an attack that sparked widespread concern across the country. After spending 56 days in captivity, the remaining hostages were eventually released and received by security personnel before undergoing medical examinations and rehabilitation.

The account by Olatunde provides one of the most detailed first-hand descriptions yet of the conditions inside the kidnappers’ camps. However, several of his claims—including the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two captives and the kidnappers’ stated motives—remain personal testimony and have not been independently verified by security authorities.