Hidden facts behind kidnap 46 Oyo teachers, students

“The terrorists told us never to pray to Jesus. They never missed praying with Quran.”

By Omolade Adegbuyi

The kidnapped Oyo State students and teachers were released following the wisdom applied by the Nigerian central government.

The Federal Government had pounced on the relatives of the terrorists, arresting their relatives, wives and children forcing the terrorists to surrender.

“It was real innovation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He brought a rare sense of native wisdom which led to the release of the captives at minimum cost,” a close source to the security operatives told Irohinoodua.

The source said if past governments had applied the same wisdom, victims would have regained their freedom.

Narrating what led to their release, Mr. Zacheaus Olatunde a teacher who was among the kidnapped also explained why one of the teachers was beheaded.

He said “The terrorists said Mr Michael Oyedokun disobeyed them. They said he died because he disobeyed their order. That day when we reached the forest, they told us to drop all our phones. We did so but we didn’t know that Mr Michael Oyedokun didn’t drophis own. A terrorist who was sitting with him on the motorcycle discovered a phone in his pocket and he began to question him. The teacher said he did not hear when they said that. Immediately the terrorist slapped him and when their commander heard, he took it up became furious.

He said the two commanders, a General commander and a camp commander, then the General commander said; If I didn’t kill anyone.I must kill this man for disobeying my order.”

He said the following day, Mr Michael Oyedokun was slaughtered.

He said Oyedokun was shouting as he was being dragged away.

He said he was pleading profusely and that his noise was so loud in the darkness of the forest while awed children were crying
He said later the noise of Oyedokun faded into silence, the silence of death.

He said many of the terrorists were in their teens.

He said one terrorist in his age of 17 or 18 came later dancing and singing to celebrate the death of the teacher.

The said the second victim, John Olaleye was murdered on June 7 because they said they have warned that military men should not move closer.

He said the terrorists had a tent where they kept the victims.

“We were chained and they handcuffed our hands for the whole 56 days. They blindfolded our eyes and anytime we wanted to pee or defecate, we would beg them.”

According to him, the terrorists changed locations.

“We didn’t stay in one place through out the 56 days. Sometimes, they would hit us with a gun. We used to suffer for any crime those little children committed.”

He said when it was time for them to pray, they would go for Islamic prayers holding their Quran.

“They prayed a lot and recited Quran. They would never miss their prayers and when it’s time to recite Quran, they would never miss it.”

He said the terrorists said they didn’t want money but they wanted their people who were arrested to be freed

He said “We men suffered alot, they should not see us praying, anytime they noticed we were praying, they would beat hell out of us. They said they didn’t want us to pray or call Jesus.

HOW VICTIMS WERE RESCUED

He said the terrorists willingly released the victims

“They asked us to go that day because military have abducted their families, they told us to go willingly so that their families could be released as well.

“When we were released, they told us the way to pass and they told us we will see two streams on the way. After those two streams, they told us we would see the solders who were there to receive us “

He said he was the one carrying everyone when they reached the streams.

“I carried almost those little children because most of them were already weak. After a short trek, we saw some security men who have been waiting to receive us.It was a bitter experience, they gave us mainly rice and red oil, no pepper and sometimes it would be only rice without salt or red oil.”

He said there was a time they killed a deer and a grasscutter for food.

“Since the day they have murdered Mr John Olaleye, they have changed to us, they started treating us well, they changed their cruelty ways of dealing with us. They changed when they heard that some of their family members have been abducted by the solders.”

Speaking further he said “The day we would be released, they asked us if we would take our bath but we said no, we were eager to live the forest. They told us to get ready that we would go home that day.

“When we reached Ibadan, one of the military commanders asked me if I could identify the terrorists if I see them on phone. He showed me their pictures and I could identify one. They told us they have arrested 8 of the terrorists and others have been neutralised.

“We thank God that we survived but we are not happy that Mr Michael Oyedokun and Mr John Olaleye could not come back”.