Kidnappers freed us before security escort – Teacher

A teacher rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following the abduction of staff and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Zacchaeus Olatunde, has claimed that the kidnappers released the victims before security personnel later escorted them home.

Speaking during a telephone interview with Nigeria Info FM, Olatunde said the captives were kept blindfolded throughout their ordeal and had no idea where they were being held.

“We didn’t even know if we were in Nigeria or another country,” he said.

He added that they feared the government had forgotten them. He also claimed the abductors spoke Hausa, Nupe, English and Yoruba and identified themselves as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), saying, “They said they are not Boko Haram. They said they are ISWAP.”

Olatunde said the victims were fed twice daily with rice, beans and other basic food items but were not allowed to pray initially.

According to him, after about a month, the kidnappers allowed prayers but warned them “not to mention the name of Jesus and not to pray aloud.”

He said the captives were released after the group’s commander told them to thank God that we had been freed.

The teacher added that the victims walked for about an hour before motorcycles took them near a village, where they later met security officials who escorted them home.