A survivor of the 56-day abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, Mr. Zaccheus Olatunde, has recounted the circumstances that led to the deaths of two fellow captives, Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.

According to Olatunde, the terrorists accused Mr. Michael Oyedokun of disobeying their instructions on the day the victims were taken into the forest. The captives had been ordered to surrender their mobile phones, and while everyone else complied, the kidnappers later discovered a phone in Mr. Oyedokun’s pocket. Although he reportedly explained that he did not hear the instruction, the explanation did not satisfy the terrorists.

Olatunde said one of the gunmen slapped the teacher before reporting the incident to the group’s overall commander, who allegedly declared that someone had to be killed for defying his order. The following day, Mr. Oyedokun was taken away and executed. His desperate cries for mercy could be heard by the other captives before they eventually fell silent. Later, a young terrorist reportedly celebrated the killing by dancing and singing.

Deacon John Olaleye was also taken away and killed on June 7. According to Olatunde, the terrorists claimed he was executed because they had warned that security forces should not advance toward their camp, suggesting they believed military operations had violated their warning.

Throughout their captivity, the victims endured severe hardship. Olatunde said the hostages were kept in chains and handcuffs, blindfolded for most of the 56 days, and frequently moved from one location to another. They were only allowed to relieve themselves with permission and were sometimes beaten with rifle butts. Adult captives were also punished for the actions of the children.

He recalled that the terrorists were strict in observing their Islamic prayers and Qur’an recitations, but violently prevented the Christian captives from praying or mentioning the name of Jesus.

According to Olatunde, the kidnappers insisted that their primary demand was not money but the release of their arrested members.

He also disclosed that the group’s attitude changed after they learned that some of their own family members had been taken into custody by security forces. From that point, they became less brutal, improved the captives’ feeding, and eventually announced they would be released.

On the day of their freedom, the terrorists directed them along a route that crossed two streams, assuring them that soldiers would be waiting beyond them. Weakened by weeks of captivity, many of the children could barely walk, forcing Olatunde to carry several of them until they reached the waiting security personnel.

After arriving safely in Ibadan, Olatunde said military officers showed him photographs of suspected terrorists, and he was able to identify one of his captors. He was informed that eight suspects had been arrested while others had been neutralised.

While expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal, Olatunde lamented that Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye did not live to regain their freedom.