On May 15, the landscape of security in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State shifted dramatically when armed individuals invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. The attackers kidnapped 39 pupils and seven educators, an event that terrified the local community. Olatunde Zacheus, an instructor among those seized, shared his experience of the ordeal, noting the chaos as students shouted warnings of bandits during their examinations.
Zacheus, who suffers from arthritis, struggled to evade the gunmen after jumping from a classroom window. He attempted to hide in the grass, but his position was revealed when a student seeking comfort inadvertently drew the commander’s attention to him. Remarkably, Zacheus noted that his chronic leg pain subsided shortly after he was given medication by the captors during his 56 days of imprisonment.
The captors, who identified themselves as ISWAP, spoke a mix of Hausa, English, and Yoruba, though they were not native to the local area. Throughout the captivity, the hostages were kept in the dark regarding their location and the outside world. Zacheus described their eventual release as a tense process, involving long treks and the crossing of rivers, where he helped carry younger children to safety.
Upon reaching what they feared might be another trap, the group encountered agents from the Department of State Services (DSS). Despite initial fears caused by the lack of license plates on the vehicles and the use of the Hausa language, the group eventually realized they were being rescued by government officials. They were subsequently transported to Ibadan following their ordeal.
