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| Rescued Oyo pupils |
One of the teachers rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Zacchaeus Olatunde, has claimed that the kidnappers released the victims before security operatives later escorted them home.
Olatunde made the disclosure during a telephone interview with Nigeria Info FM, where he recounted the ordeal of the abducted teachers and pupils.
According to him, the captives remained blindfolded throughout their stay in the forest, making it impossible for them to identify their location.
He said the abductors communicated in Hausa, Nupe, Yoruba and English, describing themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province rather than Boko Haram.
"They repeatedly told us they were ISWAP and not Boko Haram. I was the last person abducted from the school and eventually the last to regain my freedom," he said.
The teacher explained that despite the uncertainty surrounding their fate, the victims drew strength from prayers offered on their behalf and remained hopeful of returning home.
Speaking on their living conditions, Olatunde said the abductors provided food twice daily, consisting mainly of rice, beans, onions, margarine and salt, but did not allow them to eat pepper throughout their captivity.
He added that the teachers were unable to bathe or wash their clothes during the 56-day ordeal, while the kidnappers initially prohibited them from praying before later permitting it under strict conditions.
According to him, they were warned not to pray aloud or mention the name of Jesus whenever they prayed.
Olatunde said their release came unexpectedly when the kidnappers' commander informed them they were free and instructed them to begin their journey out of the forest.
He recalled that he was the last to leave because the key to his handcuffs had broken. Although one of the kidnappers suggested cutting off his hand to remove the cuffs, another opposed the idea before they eventually untied him with a rope.
The teacher further claimed that after the victims trekked for about an hour, the kidnappers arranged motorcycles that conveyed them close to a nearby village, from where they continued on foot until they met security personnel.
He said the victims initially feared the security operatives because they were speaking Hausa and arrived in unmarked buses with Arabic inscriptions, prompting them to demand proof of their identity before agreeing to follow them.
Olatunde also narrated how he assisted younger pupils across rivers during the journey and disclosed that arthritis in his left leg prevented him from escaping during the attack, leading to his capture.
He added that the kidnappers surprisingly gave him medication which eased the pain in the affected leg.
The teacher said he had yet to receive any financial assistance since regaining his freedom, adding that greater attention should be given to rebuilding and supporting his school.
The teachers and pupils were abducted in May after armed men invaded schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
They regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity, prompting Governor Seyi Makinde to order medical treatment and psychosocial support for the victims while calling for a United Nations-backed investigation into the incident.
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