Kidnappers Freed Us First: Teacher Reveals Dramatic Twist in Oyo Abduction Saga, Contradicting Presidency’s “Rescue” Claim
In a startling revelation that challenges the official narrative, one of the teachers held captive for 56 days by kidnappers in Oyo State has claimed that he and fellow hostages were released by their abductors *before* security operatives arrived to escort them to safety.
Zacchaeus Olatunde, a teacher among the victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, made the disclosure during a telephone interview with Nigeria Info FM on Friday.
According to Olatunde, the captives — who were kept permanently blindfolded and had no idea of their location — were informed of their freedom by the kidnappers’ commander before any government intervention.
“Until the last day when their commander came and was smiling and laughing and said we should thank God that we had been freed. The next thing they said was that we should open our eyes,” he recounted.
The teacher’s account presents a significant contrast to statements from the Presidency, which described the operation as a successful rescue by security forces.
Olatunde said the group trekked for about an hour after their release, received motorcycles from the kidnappers to reach a nearby village, and continued trekking before encountering security personnel. Upon meeting the team, the former captives were initially suspicious because the operatives spoke Hausa and arrived in buses without number plates bearing Arabic inscriptions.
“We were afraid they wanted to take us somewhere else,” he said, adding that they demanded identity cards before being convinced.
The abductors, who communicated in Hausa, Nupe, English, and Yoruba, reportedly identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), insisting they were not Boko Haram. Olatunde noted he was the last person captured and the last released, partly because a broken handcuff key delayed his departure. At one point, he feared for his life when the commander called him back at gunpoint, only to direct him on the correct route.
Conditions in captivity were harsh: the hostages, including teachers, went 56 days without bathing or washing clothes. They were fed twice daily — mainly rice, beans, onions, margarine, and salt, with no pepper — and were initially barred from praying. After about a month, limited prayers were permitted, but without mentioning Jesus or praying aloud.
Despite the ordeal, Olatunde expressed gratitude for public prayers, saying, “All I can say is that God answered all the prayers that people were praying for us.”
He also shared a surprising personal detail: medication provided by the kidnappers for his arthritis unexpectedly improved his condition.
Following the victims’ release, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde announced their freedom after 56 days and called for a UN-backed investigation into the abduction. However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, pushed back against the idea, defending the security agencies’ explanations.
Olatunde said he is yet to receive any financial support from authorities, adding that priority should be given to his school.
The abduction occurred in May when armed men attacked schools in the Oriire area, drawing national attention to the persistent security challenges in the region. The teacher’s account has added a new layer of complexity to the story, raising fresh questions about the exact circumstances of the hostages’ freedom.
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