‘They came one day, smiling and laughing and told us we’re free’ — Oyo Teacher Shares account of 56-day ISWAP captivity
Mr Olatunde Zachaeus, a school counsellor and teacher who survived a harrowing 56 days in the custody of terrorists in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has broken his silence.
In an emotional live broadcast on 99.3 Nigeria Info FM, Zachaeus recounted the terrifying details of the ambush, the harsh environment inside the forest, and the bizarre, sudden moment their captors came smiling and laughing and set them free.
The ambush: Caught by a flare-up
Recalling the day of the abduction, Zachaeus explained that he had slept over in the village because he wanted to conduct a test for the JSS 1–3 students in the school hall. He recalled that other teachers joined him with the students later. Suddenly, the peace was shattered by sporadic gunfire.
“We just heard the movement of a bike and immediately, a gunshot,” Zakius said. “The students started jumping through the windows to escape into the bush.”
Zachaeus tried to follow them, but an agonising bout of chronic arthritis in his left leg restricted his mobility. He said he managed to jump over the window like the others, but landed on his bad left leg.
Afterwards, he said he managed to join the students in fleeing, but at a point, he could no longer proceed. He said he told the children to run for their lives and that he would find a way to hide.
He recalled that he was wearing green clothes and hid in the thick green grass, covering his legs with leaves. However, a student in a bright white uniform who refused to leave his side unintentionally drew the attention of the terrorists’ commander. Zachaeus was discovered and taken away.
Life in the bush: 56 days in Chains
Once in the deep forest, the true severity of their captivity became clear. Zachaeus revealed that the male captives were kept heavily blindfolded and bound in leg irons and chains.
Crucially, Zachaeus noted that their captors explicitly distanced themselves from traditional ransom-seeking bandits.
“They said they are not bandits and they said they are not Boko Haram,” Zachaeus revealed, indicating they identified instead as ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) militants.
For nearly two months, the captives survived on an unvarying, bland diet. “They fed us twice a day, in the morning and evening. But the food was just rice, a little beans, salt, maggi, and oil. For seven good weeks, there was nothing called pepper.”
Hygiene was non-existent. Zakius confirmed that for the entire 56-day duration, the teachers were unable to bathe or change their clothes.
The tragic loss of colleagues
While Zachaeus and several children made it out alive, the trauma is heavily overshadowed by the cold-blooded murder of two senior colleagues.
Zachaeus recalled the tragic execution of Deacon John Olaleye, who taught the junior classes Mathematics, and the school’s Vice Principal, Michael Oyedokun, who taught the senior classes Mathematics, and was also the school’s Vice Principal.
“Deacon spent over seven years in that school. He was a close friend. If I had financial challenges, he was always there,” Zachaeus said sadly. “I am alive; I’ve seen my wife and children. What of them?”
Why they killed Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye
Zachaeus recalled that the militants were angry with the late Oyedokun from the day of their capture. They allegedly accused him of not complying with their instructions for everyone to drop their phones.
He recalled that when they were being transported on motorcycles, a militant sitting with Oyedokun felt the bulge of his phone and confronted him.
Zachaeus said the militant slapped Oyedokun, who reportedly said that he did not hear the instruction when it was passed.
The militant reported the issue to the commander, who reportedly said even if he would not kill anyone else, he must kill Oyedokun.
He said the following day, they grabbed the teacher and took him away to slaughter him. He recalled that the teacher was screaming and begging them, but they did not listen.
Zachaeus said that for Olaleye, the only reason they killed him was just to send a signal to the security forces that they needed to stop trailing them. trailing them
‘They just came, smiling and laughing’
Zachaeus said they were forbidden to pray or mention the name of Jesus. Anyone caught praying got the beating of his life.
However, when things were not going the way they wanted, the militants reportedly told them they could pray to their God, but should not pray aloud because they did not want to hear the name of Jesus.
Their release came like a miracle. Their overall boss reportedly came to them and just announced with happiness that they were free to go.
“Their commander just came to us one day, and they were smiling and laughing. They told us we should thank God that we have been freed,” Zachaeus recalled.
The militants unlocked the chains. Because the key to Zachaeus’ heavy leg iron had broken off earlier during a mealtime, he had to wait behind as the others fled.
He recalled that one of the militants suggested cutting off his hands to free him, but another managed to pick the lock with a tiny piece of rope.
Olatunde Zachaeus carried the children across rivers
Once completely loose, Zachaeus said he first ran in the wrong direction because his fellow captives had gone far. He said the commander called him back and showed him the direction his people followed. He said he later caught up with them, guided by the distant echo of their voices. The trek to safety took hours through rugged terrain.
When the group reached a swelling, bank-high river, panic ensued among the exhausted students and the school principal. Acting quickly, Zachaeus grabbed a stick to gauge the depth of the water, found a shallow path, and heroically carried the youngest children—including a little girl named Testimony—across the river on his neck.
After walking for nearly two hours, they finally reached a remote village called Alausa, where security operatives and evacuation buses dispatched by the government were waiting to receive them.
