One of the kidnapped but rescued Oriire teachers, Mr Zacheaus Olatunde has given an account of their ordeal which began on May 15, 2026 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Speaking in trending videos, he recounted the events that led to the d3aths of both Mr Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
Mr. MICHAEL OYEDOKUN D!ED BECAUSE OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE
That day when we reached the forest, they told us to drop all our phones. We did so, but Mr Michael Oyedokun didn’t drop his own. A terrorist who was sitting with him on the motorcycle discovered a phone in his pocket and began to question him. The teacher said he did not hear when they said that. The terrorist slapped him immediately. When their commander heard it, he took it up and was very furious.
They have two commanders: a General commander and a camp commander. The General commander said, “If I didn’t k!ll anyone…I must k!ll this man for disobeying my order”.
The following day, Mr Michael Oyedokun was slaughtered. He was shouting as they were dragging him away. He was begging and his noise was so loud but later we didn’t hear his voice anymore.
One terrorist, age 17 or 18, came later. He was dancing and singing in celebration of the d3ath of the teacher.
Mr. JOHN OLALEYE WAS K!LLED AS A RESULT OF MILITARY ENCROACHMENT
They mürdered him on June 7. They k!lled him because they said they have warned that military men should not move closer.
They didn’t k!ll them in our presence; they came to take them away and go to another place to carry out the evil acts. We were only hearing their noise.
They have a tent where they kept us, we were chained and they handcuff our hand for the whole 56 days. They blindfolded our eyes and anytime we wanted to pee or defecate, we would beg them.
They changed locations, we didn’t stay in one place throughout the 56 days. Sometimes, they would hit us with a gun. We used to suffer for any crime those little children committed.
When it’s time for them to pray, they didn’t joke with it. They prayed alot and recited Quran. They would never miss their prayers and when it’s time to recite Quran, they would never miss it.
TERRORISTS WERE DEVOUT MUSLIMS AND HATED HEARING THE NAME OF JESUS
The terrorists said they didn’t want money but they wanted their people who were arrested to be freed, that was their demand. We men suffered a lot. They must not see us praying. Anytime they noticed we were praying, they would beat the hell out of us. They said they didn’t want us to pray or call Jesus.
THEY WASHED STUDENTS’ CLOTHES
Those saying the abduction was staged don’t know what they’re talking about. Would anyone k!ll two people if it was staged? The Oyo State Government had directed that native attire be worn on Fridays, which is why both the students and teachers were dressed in native clothes. The abductors even washed the students’ clothes occasionally after noticing they had started smelling.
HOW THEY WERE RESCUED
The terrorists willingly released us. They asked us to go that day because military have abducted their families. They on their own told us to go, so that their families could be released as well.
When we were released, they told us the way to pass and they told us we will see two streams on the way. After those two streams, they said we will see soldiers, who are there to receive us.
I was the one carrying everyone when we reached the streams. I carried those little children because most of them were already weak. After a short trek, we saw some security men who have been waiting to receive us.
WHAT WE WERE EATING
It was a bitter Experience. They gave us majorly rice and red oil; no pepper; and sometimes it would be only rice without salt or red oil.
There was a time they k*lled a deer and a grasscutter for us. Since the day they have eliminated Mr John Olaleye, they changed their attitude towards us and started treating us well. They changed their cruel ways of dealing with us. They changed when they heard that some of their family members have been abducted by the solders.
The day we would be released, they asked us if we would take our bath. But we said no: because we were eager to leave the forest. They told us to get ready that we would go home that day.
When we reached Ibadan, one of the military commanders asked me if I could identify the terrorists if I see them on phone. He showed me their pictures and I could identify one. They told us they have arrested 8 of the terrorists and others have been nutrilized.
We thank God that we survived; but we are not happy that Mr Michael Oyedokun and Mr John Olaleye could not come back alive.
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