Rescued Oyo teacher recounts 56 days in captivity, says ISWAP abductors freed victims before security escort

Zacchaeus Olatunde, one of the teachers abducted during an attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has recounted his 56-day ordeal in captivity, claiming that he and other victims were released by their abductors before being received and escorted by security personnel.

Olatunde made the disclosure during a radio interview days after he and 43 other teachers and pupils regained their freedom and reunited with their families.

Describing the conditions of their captivity, Olatunde said the victims were kept blindfolded for most of the period in a remote forest camp. According to him, the abductors communicated in Hausa, Nupe, English and Yoruba and identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“They told us they were not Boko Haram; they said they are ISWAP,” he said.

Olatunde explained that he was the last person abducted during the attack because he suffers from arthritis, which slowed his movement.

He said the captives were fed twice daily but lived under strict rules imposed by the kidnappers. According to him, prayers were prohibited during the first month of captivity. Although they were later allowed to pray, they were instructed to do so silently and warned against mentioning the name of Jesus.

Narrating how they regained their freedom, Olatunde said the leader of the abductors arrived at the camp and informed the captives that they would be released. He said they were instructed to remove their blindfolds before leaving the camp.

According to him, the freed captives trekked through the forest for about an hour before the kidnappers arranged motorcycles to transport them closer to the edge of the forest. After the motorcycle ride, they reportedly walked for another hour and a half until they reached a location where security personnel and government officials received them and escorted them to safety.

Olatunde added that during the journey out of the forest, he assisted some of the younger pupils in crossing rivers and navigating difficult terrain.

His account has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with some Nigerians questioning aspects of the victims’ ordeal. Several online users have expressed surprise that the rescued teachers and pupils appeared to be in relatively stable physical condition after spending nearly two months in captivity, leading to speculation about the circumstances of their detention and release. However, these claims remain unverified, and neither the Oyo State Government nor security agencies have issued any statement suggesting that the victims’ accounts are inaccurate.

While expressing gratitude for their freedom, the teacher said he had yet to receive any financial assistance or rehabilitation support since returning home.

He appealed to both the Oyo State and Federal Government to improve security and rehabilitate the affected schools in Oriire Local Government Area to enable teachers and pupils to return to a safe learning environment.

The teachers and pupils were released after spending 56 days in captivity following their abduction during an attack on schools in the local government area. Authorities have yet to issue a detailed account addressing Olatunde’s version of the circumstances surrounding their release, while investigations into the incident continue.