Kidnap Survivor Recounts 56-Day Ordeal, Explains Circumstances Surrounding Deaths of Two Victims

…Narrates weeks of torture, starvation, forced movements and eventual release after 56 days in captivity

A survivor of the May 15, 2026 abduction of pupils, teachers and other residents from Ahoro-Ehnsiele Community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr. Zacheaus Olatunde, has narrated the harrowing experiences of the captives during their 56-day ordeal in the forest.

Speaking on the circumstances that led to the deaths of Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye, Olatunde said the kidnappers accused Mr. Oyedokun of disobeying their instructions after allegedly finding a mobile phone in his pocket despite ordering all captives to surrender their phones upon arrival at the camp.

According to him, one of the kidnappers discovered the phone while Mr. Oyedokun was on a motorcycle and reported the matter to the group’s leader, who allegedly ordered that he be executed as punishment for disobedience.

Olatunde said Mr. Oyedokun was taken away the following day, while fellow captives could hear him crying out for help before the sounds suddenly stopped.

He further disclosed that Deacon John Olaleye was later taken away and killed on June 7 after the kidnappers accused security forces of moving too close to their camp despite previous warnings.

Mr Olatunde said neither of the two victims was killed in the presence of the other captives, as they were taken to separate locations before being murdered.

He said the abductees were kept in tents throughout their captivity, with their hands handcuffed and their legs chained, while they were also blindfolded most of the time.

Mr. Olatunde added that they were forced to seek permission before attending to basic needs and were frequently moved from one location to another within the forest.

He recalled that the captives, especially the adult males, were often beaten with gun butts and punished for actions attributed to the children.

According to him, the kidnappers also forbade Christians from praying or mentioning the name of Jesus, warning that anyone caught praying would be severely beaten.

The survivor said the abductors maintained strict religious routines, observing their daily prayers and regularly reciting the Qur’an.

He added that the group claimed they were not interested in ransom but demanded the release of some of their members who had been arrested by security agencies.

Explaining how they eventually regained freedom, Olatunde said the kidnappers informed the captives that they were being released because security forces had taken members of their families into custody.

According to him, the abductors expressed hope that releasing the captives would facilitate the release of their relatives.

He said the kidnappers directed the captives on the route to follow, instructing them to cross two streams where security personnel would be waiting to receive them.

Olatunde added that he assisted many of the weakened children by carrying them across parts of the journey until they encountered the waiting security operatives.

Describing the conditions in captivity, Olatunde said the abductees were fed mostly with plain rice, sometimes mixed with red palm oil but without pepper or salt.

Mr Olatunde noted that on rare occasions, the kidnappers provided meat from animals such as deer and grasscutters.

He further revealed that the attitude of the kidnappers changed after the killing of Deacon John Olaleye, saying they became less hostile after learning that some of their own family members had been apprehended by soldiers.

He said the kidnappers even asked the captives to take their bath before leaving the camp on the day of their release, but they declined because they were eager to leave the forest.

Mr Olatunde added that after arriving in Ibadan, military authorities showed him photographs of suspected kidnappers, and he was able to identify one of those who had held them captive.

The Oriire abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, ended after 56 days in captivity when the victims were safely recovered through coordinated security operations involving the military and other security agencies.

The incident claimed the lives of Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.