Rescued Oyo teacher Zacchaeus Olatunde has recounted a surprising turn of events during his 56-day captivity: a drug administered by his kidnappers unexpectedly relieved the arthritis that had plagued his left leg for years. Olatunde, one of the teachers abducted alongside pupils from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, shared his experience in a telephone interview with Nigeria Info FM.
Unexpected Relief from Captors' Medication
Olatunde explained that the arthritis had slowed him down when armed attackers stormed the schools in May, preventing him from escaping. 'The leg that I had spent so much money treating got better after they gave me one drug,' he said. He had hidden under grass, but a student's glance led the kidnappers' commander to discover him.
Throughout the 56 days, the captives were permanently blindfolded and had no idea of their location. 'It is difficult to say on air, but I will just say what I can. When we were there, we were blindfolded, not an ordinary blindfold. We didn't even know if we were in Nigeria or another country,' Olatunde recounted.
Release and Rescue Operation
On the final day, the kidnappers' commander informed the group they were freed. 'Until the last day when their commander came and was smiling and laughing and said we should thank God that we had been freed. The next thing they said was that we should open our eyes,' Olatunde said. The victims trekked for nearly an hour, then were transported by motorcycles to a nearby village before walking again to meet security personnel.
Initially, the victims feared the security operatives because they spoke Hausa and arrived in unmarked buses. 'When we saw the buses, we were afraid because the people were speaking Hausa. We even asked them to show us their identity cards. They kept assuring us that the government sent them,' Olatunde added.
Harsh Conditions in Captivity
Olatunde disclosed that teachers could not bathe or wash clothes during the entire period. The abductors fed them twice daily with simple meals of rice, beans, onions, margarine, and salt. The victims were abducted in May from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area. They regained freedom after 56 days, with the Federal Government stating no ransom was paid.
Why Rescued Children Wore Native Attire
In a previous report, Olatunde dismissed claims that the incident was staged, explaining that the rescued children wore matching native attire because the abduction occurred on a Friday, the day designated by the Oyo State Government for primary school pupils in private schools to wear traditional clothing.
