A survivor of the May 15, 2026 abduction involving staff and pupils of Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago-Are, Oyo State, Mr. Zacheaus Olatunde, has shared a harrowing account of the 56 days he and other captives spent in the hands of their abductors, alleging that one of the victims, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded after being accused of disobeying an instruction.
Speaking publicly about the ordeal, Mr. Olatunde said the abductors had ordered all captives to surrender their mobile phones immediately after they were taken into the forest. According to him, while the victims complied with the directive, the abductors later discovered that Mr. Oyedokun still had a phone in his pocket.
He explained that the late teacher reportedly told the armed men he did not hear the initial instruction to hand over his phone. However, the explanation failed to convince them.
According to the survivor, one of the commanders became enraged after learning about the incident and allegedly declared that Mr. Oyedokun would be executed for what they described as disobedience.
Mr. Olatunde recalled that the teacher was taken away from the camp the following day despite repeatedly pleading for mercy. He said the remaining captives heard his desperate cries as he was led away before the voices suddenly went silent. He further alleged that the abductors later informed them that Mr. Oyedokun had been beheaded, while one of the younger members of the group reportedly returned celebrating the killing.
The survivor also narrated the circumstances surrounding the death of another victim, Deacon John Olaleye, who, according to him, was killed on June 7 after the abductors accused security forces of violating their warning not to approach their hideout. Like Mr. Oyedokun, he said Mr. Olaleye was taken to another location before he was killed.
Throughout the 56-day captivity, Mr. Olatunde said the victims endured severe physical and emotional hardship. They were allegedly chained and handcuffed inside makeshift tents, blindfolded for long periods, and forced to seek permission before attending to basic human needs. He added that the captives were frequently moved from one forest location to another to avoid security operations.
He further claimed that the abductors routinely assaulted the victims, sometimes using firearms to inflict punishment, and that adults occasionally suffered beatings for actions allegedly committed by younger children among the captives.
Mr. Olatunde also alleged that while the abductors observed regular Islamic prayers and Quranic recitations, they prohibited the Christian captives from praying. According to him, anyone caught praying or calling on Jesus was severely beaten.
On the group’s motive, the survivor claimed the abductors repeatedly insisted that their objective was not ransom but the release of their associates and family members who had been arrested by security agencies.
He said the captives were eventually released after the abductors informed them that some of their relatives had been taken into custody by the military. Before releasing them, the armed men reportedly directed them to follow a route that crossed two streams, assuring them that soldiers would be waiting at the end of the path.
According to Mr. Olatunde, many of the children had become too weak to walk after weeks in captivity, forcing some of the adults to carry them through the difficult terrain until they encountered security personnel.
The survivor described the food provided during captivity as grossly inadequate, stating that they were mostly fed plain rice or rice mixed only with red palm oil, with meat served only on rare occasions.
He further disclosed that after arriving in Ibadan following their rescue, security officials showed him photographs of suspected members of the armed group. He said he identified one of the individuals, after which he was informed that several suspects had been arrested while others had been neutralised during military operations.
Expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal, Mr. Olatunde said the joy of regaining freedom remains overshadowed by the painful loss of Mr. Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye, who did not return home alive.
The Nigeria Education News reports that the account reflects the survivor’s testimony. Authorities have continued investigations into the abduction, while security agencies have previously confirmed ongoing operations against criminal groups responsible for attacks on schools and communities.
