Mr. Olatunde Zachaeus, a school counsellor and teacher who survived 56 days in the custody of suspected ISWAP militants after being abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has shared his heartbreaking experience.
Newsonspot reports that while speaking during a live interview on 99.3 Nigeria Info FM, Zachaeus narrated how he and other teachers, alongside several students, were attacked while preparing to conduct a test at their school. He described the terrifying ordeal, the harsh conditions in captivity, the killing of two colleagues, and the unexpected moment their captors released them.
According to Zachaeus, he had spent the previous night in the village to organise a test for JSS 1-3 students. While the examination preparations were underway, gunmen suddenly stormed the school, firing sporadically and forcing students to flee through the windows into nearby bushes.
Although he attempted to escape, chronic arthritis in his left leg slowed him down after landing awkwardly while jumping through a window. Unable to continue running, he urged the students to save themselves while he hid in thick grass. However, a student wearing a bright white uniform refused to leave him, unintentionally revealing their location to the terrorists, who captured him.
Inside the forest, Zachaeus said the male captives were blindfolded, chained and placed in leg irons throughout their captivity. He disclosed that the militants insisted they were neither bandits nor Boko Haram members but identified themselves as fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Read This: Outrage in Oyo as Abducted Teacher Allegedly Killed by Gunmen After School Attack…
For nearly two months, the captives survived on two simple meals daily consisting mainly of rice, beans, salt, seasoning cubes and oil, without pepper. They were also unable to bathe or change their clothes for the entire 56-day period.
The teacher tearfully recounted the murder of two colleagues-Vice Principal Michael Oyedokun and Mathematics teacher Deacon John Olaleye.
He explained that the militants accused Oyedokun of hiding a mobile phone after allegedly failing to surrender it during the abduction. Despite his explanation that he had not heard the instruction, the militants executed him the following day.
Olaleye, according to Zachaeus, was later killed to send a warning to security forces pursuing the terrorists.
He also revealed that the captives were forbidden from praying or mentioning the name of Jesus. Those caught praying openly were severely beaten. However, when the militants encountered difficulties, they later permitted the captives to pray quietly without mentioning Jesus aloud.
Read Also: Gunmen Kidnap Oyo School Principal, Students in Daylight Attack…
Their release came unexpectedly after 56 days when the group’s commander approached them smiling and announced that they had been set free.
Although Zachaeus initially remained behind because the key to his leg irons had broken, another militant eventually unlocked the chains, allowing him to escape. After briefly heading in the wrong direction, the commander redirected him toward the other captives, whom he later caught up with.
During their long trek to safety, Zachaeus displayed remarkable courage by helping frightened children cross a swollen river. Using a stick to test the water’s depth, he found a safe crossing point and carried several of the youngest pupils, including a girl identified as Testimony, across the river on his shoulders.
After nearly two hours of trekking through difficult terrain, the survivors arrived at Alausa village, where security personnel and government-arranged evacuation vehicles received them.
Zachaeus’ emotional account has provided fresh insight into the horrifying experience endured by the abducted teachers and students, highlighting both the brutality of their captors and the resilience that ultimately saw many of them return home alive.
