Teacher Survives 56 Days in Captivity After Gunmen Attack Schools in Oyo State

A teacher from Oyo State shares his dramatic story of survival after gunmen attacked two schools, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers.

The attack occurred on May 15, at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, both in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The teacher, Olatunde Zacheus, who was one of those abducted, recounts the harrowing experience in an interview with Nigeria Info FM.

"That day, I slept over in that community," Zacheus said. "I do come to school from Ogbomoso, but I stayed in the community that day. When I went to school, the students started arriving. When they came, I was the only staff in school." Zacheus, who has arthritis in his left leg, was unable to walk and hid in the grass, where he was later discovered by the attackers.

"The next thing I saw were students jumping from the window, including the junior staff with me. They ran into the bush. So, I also jumped through the window," Zacheus said. "However, when I wanted to land, I landed with the left leg, where I had arthritis."

Despite being unable to walk, Zacheus managed to evade capture for a while. He was left behind by the attackers, who took his colleagues and the students.

"I laid down inside the grass, hid there and used one of the thick leaves to cover my leg," Zacheus said. "Immediately, I saw another student coming towards me. She took pity on me and shouted: 'master.' I told her to go and not feel pity for me because I knew what to do."

Zacheus was eventually captured by the attackers, who took him and his colleagues to their hideout. He spent 56 days in captivity before being released.

"We were blinded, not blindfolded," Zacheus said. "We didn’t know if we were in another country because the place was so dark."

Zacheus said that the attackers fed them occasionally, but he refused to eat because he was not sure of the food.

The teacher praised Governor Seyi Makinde for his support, but expressed frustration with the lack of financial support from the government.

"The utmost support for now should be health," Zacheus said. "Governor Seyi Makinde has tried his best. We have all been discharged from the hospital except for maybe two or three kids."

The incident raises questions about the security of schools in Nigeria and the ability of the government to protect its citizens.