A teacher rescued after spending 56 days in the custody of terrorists in Oyo State has dismissed allegations that the mass abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area was staged, explaining that their captors occasionally washed the victims’ clothes while they were held in the forest.
Zachery Olatunde, one of the teachers rescued during the security operation that secured the victims’ freedom, said the clarification became necessary following social media claims questioning why some of the rescued captives appeared neat despite spending several weeks in captivity.
Speaking in a video shared by Oyo Matters, Olatunde explained that the terrorists washed the captives’ clothes whenever they became excessively dirty or emitted offensive odours, a practice he said had been wrongly interpreted by some as proof that the abduction was fabricated.
He stressed that despite having clean clothes at intervals, the victims returned home physically exhausted, with rough appearances and overgrown beards that reflected the harsh conditions they endured in the forest.
The teacher also rejected claims that the kidnapping was stage-managed, pointing out that two people lost their lives during the attack, underscoring the seriousness of the incident.
According to him, the ordeal was deeply traumatic, and he appealed to Nigerians to stop spreading false narratives capable of further hurting the victims and their families.
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Olatunde also addressed questions surrounding the matching Ankara outfits worn by many of the rescued pupils after their release.
He explained that the clothing was in line with the Oyo State Government’s policy requiring pupils in private primary schools to wear native attire on Fridays. Teachers also dressed in traditional wear on Fridays, while students in secondary schools remained in their regular uniforms.
He urged the public to disregard claims that the abduction was orchestrated, insisting that the victims genuinely spent several weeks in terrorist captivity.
The Presidency had announced on July 10 that all 44 abducted pupils and teachers regained their freedom after they were kidnapped on May 15 from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
The attack occurred when heavily armed terrorists stormed the three schools and abducted pupils, teachers and the school principal, Folawe Alamu.
During the assault, the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape, while a Mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the terrorists a few days into the victims’ captivity.
The hostages were eventually rescued on July 10 during a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Amotekun Corps and local vigilante groups.
The Presidency maintained that the successful rescue was achieved without the payment of ransom or the granting of any concession to the kidnappers.