A teacher who was rescued after spending 56 days in captivity has dismissed allegations that the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State was staged, explaining why some of the victims looked clean after regaining their freedom.
Speaking in a video shared by Oyo Matters, Zachery Olatunde said the kidnappers ensured the captives’ clothes were washed whenever they became dirty or started smelling, which made some of the victims appear neat despite their lengthy ordeal.
He also addressed concerns over the matching ankara outfits worn by the pupils after their rescue. According to him, the attire was not provided by the kidnappers but was part of Oyo State’s policy requiring primary school pupils to wear native clothing on Fridays.
Olatunde maintained that the kidnapping was genuine, stressing that the victims endured a traumatic 56-day ordeal in captivity. He added that the deaths of two victims during the incident clearly showed that the abduction was not fabricated.
The pupils and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15 before they were rescued on July 10 during a joint operation by security agencies.
The Presidency has maintained that no ransom was paid to secure the victims’ release.
