18/07/2026
ORIRE KIDNÃP: WE WERE RELEASED, NOT RESCUED.
This is the account of Mr Zacheaus Olatunde on the kidnãp that took place on May 15, 2026 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He talked about what really caused the death of both Mr Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
Mr. MICHAEL OYEDOKUN D!ED BECAUSE OF HIS DISOBEDIENCE
That day when we reached the forest, they told us to drop all our PHONES. We did so, but Mr Michael Oyedokun didn't drop his own. A tẹrrọrist who was sitting with him on the motorcycle discovered a phone in his pocket and began to question him. The teacher said he did not hear when they said that. The tẹrrọrist slãpped him immediately. When their commander heard it, he took it up and was very furious.
They have two commanders: a General commander and a camp commander. The General commander said, "If I didn't kll anyone...I must kll this man for disobeying my order".
The following day, Mr Michael Oyedokun was s*aughtered. He was shouting as they were dr@gging him away. He was begging and his noise was so loud but late we didn't hear his voice anymore.
One terrorist, age 17 or 18, came later. He was dancing and singing in celebration of the déàth of the teacher.
Mr. JOHN OLALEYE WAS K!LLED AS A RESULT OF MILITARY ENCROACHMENT
They m*rdered him on June 7. They k*lled him because they said they have warned that military men should not move closer.
They didn't k*ll them in our presence; they came to take them away and go to another place to carry out the evil acts. We were only hearing their noise.
They have a tent where they kept us, we were chained and they handcuffed our hand for the whole 56 days. They blindfolded our eyes and anytime we wanted to p*e or defecate, we would beg them.
They 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 crǐme those little children committed.
When it's time for them to pray, they don't joke with it. They prayed a lot and recited the Quran. They would never miss their prayers and when it's time to recite Quran, they would never miss it.
TẸRRỌRISTS WERE DEVOUT MUSLIMS AND HATED HEARING THE NAME OF JESUS
The terrorists said they didn't want money but they wanted their people who were arrested to be freed, that was their demand. We men suffered a lot. They must 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 THEY WERE "RESCUED"
The terrorists willingly released us. They asked us to go that day because the military has abdǔcted their families. They on their own told us to go, 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 said we will see soldiers, who are there to receive us.
I was the one carrying everyone when we reached the streams. I carried almost all 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.
WHAT WE WERE EATING
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.
There was a time they k*lled a deer and a grasscutter for us. Since the day they have eliminated Mr John Olaleye, they changed their attitude towards us and started treating us well. They changed their crǔel ways of dealing with us. They changed when they heard that some of their family members have been abdǔcted by the soldiers.
The day we were released, they asked us if we would take our bath. But we said no: because we were eager to leave 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 tẹrrọrists if I see them on phones. He showed me their pictures and I could identify one. They told us they have arrested 8 of the terrorists and others have been neutralized.
We thank God that we survived; but we are not happy that Mr Michael Oyedokun and Mr John Olaleye could not come back alive.
