Oyo Abduction: Survivor Claims Victims Were Released, Not Rescued

• A survivor of the Oyo school abduction claims the captives were released by their abductors rather than rescued by security forces.

• He alleged two teachers were killed during captivity and described harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp.

• Authorities have not publicly responded to the survivor’s account and continue to maintain that the victims were rescued during a security operation.

One of the survivors of the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has claimed that the captives were released by their abductors rather than rescued during a military operation.

The survivor, identified as Zacheaus Olatunde, made the claims while recounting the 56-day ordeal in captivity.

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According to him, the abductors allegedly ordered all captives to surrender their mobile phones upon arrival at the camp. He claimed that one of the slain teachers, Michael Oyedokun, allegedly failed to comply immediately, leading to his execution by the kidnappers.

Olatunde also alleged that another victim, Deacon John Olaleye, was later killed after the kidnappers accused security forces of advancing towards their hideout despite earlier warnings.

The survivor further claimed that the captives were chained, blindfolded, frequently moved between locations and subjected to harsh conditions throughout their captivity.

He alleged that the abductors prevented Christian prayers, insisting they would not tolerate the mention of Jesus, while observing their own Islamic prayers regularly.

According to Olatunde, the kidnappers eventually ordered the captives to leave after learning that security forces had allegedly detained members of their families.

READ ALSO: FG Arraigns Three Over Abduction of Oyo Pupils, Teachers

He claimed the abductors directed them along a route where they later encountered security personnel who took them into custody.

The survivor also disclosed that military officials later showed him photographs of suspected kidnappers, informing him that eight suspects had been arrested.

The Federal Government has, however, maintained that the pupils and teachers were rescued through a coordinated security operation, while three suspects have already been arraigned before a Federal High Court on terrorism and kidnapping-related charges.

The survivor’s account has not been independently verified, and security agencies are yet to publicly respond to the specific claims regarding the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release.

News Summary

A survivor of the Oyo school abduction claims the captives were released by their abductors rather than rescued by security forces.

He alleged two teachers were killed during captivity and described harsh conditions in the kidnappers’ camp.

Authorities have not publicly responded to the survivor’s account and continue to maintain that the victims were rescued during a security operation.