Horror Ends: Oyo Teacher Rescued From Terrorists, Escorted Home by Soldiers

Zacchaeus Olatunde, a teacher rescued after enduring 56 days in captivity following a mass abduction of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has provided a detailed account of his harrowing experience. Olatunde, who shared his ordeal during a telephone interview with Nigeria Info FM, claimed that the victims were first released by their captors before security personnel later escorted them to safety.

During their prolonged detention, Olatunde revealed that the captives were kept blindfolded, making it impossible for them to discern their location. "We didn’t even know if we were in Nigeria or another country. We were just there," he recounted, expressing the profound uncertainty and fear that permeated their time in confinement. He added that the abductors communicated using a mix of Hausa, Nupe, English, and Yoruba languages, identifying themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), explicitly stating they were not Boko Haram. Olatunde notably mentioned he was the last person captured at the school and subsequently the last to be released from their custody.

Despite the dire circumstances, the captives held onto hope, believing that widespread prayers for their freedom would be answered. Olatunde acknowledged the captors' efforts regarding sustenance, noting they were fed twice daily with a consistent diet of rice, beans, onions, margarine, and salt, though pepper was conspicuously absent from their meals. However, their physical conditions were severely neglected; for the entire 56-day period, the teachers neither bathed nor washed their clothes.

Religious freedoms were also curtailed, as Olatunde disclosed that prayer was initially prohibited upon their arrival at the camp. After approximately a month, they were permitted to pray, but with strict caveats: they were warned not to mention the name of Jesus and were forbidden from praying aloud. The eventual release came as an unexpected relief, with the kidnappers' commander smilingly informing them of their newfound freedom and instructing them to open their eyes.

Olatunde's departure from the camp faced a unique complication: the key to his handcuffs had broken. As other captives left, he remained, with one abductor even suggesting cutting off his hand to remove the restraint. Thankfully, another member intervened, and they eventually used a small rope to remove the handcuff. He further alleged that after attempting to follow the other released victims, the kidnappers' commander, at gunpoint, called him back to direct him towards the correct escape route.

The journey to full freedom was arduous. The victims trekked for approximately 40 minutes to an hour before motorcycles, arranged by the kidnappers, transported them closer to a nearby village. From that point, they continued on foot for another hour and a half until they finally encountered security personnel dispatched for their rescue. However, this encounter was initially met with apprehension. Olatunde and the other victims were wary of the security team because they spoke Hausa, and their vehicles lacked number plates and bore Arabic inscriptions, leading to fears that they might be taken elsewhere. They insisted on seeing identification cards before being reassured that the government had indeed sent them.