Oyo Kidnap Survivor Reveals 56-Day Ordeal as Trial of Suspects Begins

A survivor of the May 2026 school kidnapping in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has given a disturbing account of the 56 days she and dozens of other victims spent in captivity. The survivor, identified in court only as “AAA” to protect her identity, testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja as the trial of five men accused of involvement in the abduction got underway. According to her testimony, armed men invaded the schools on May 15, 2026, shortly after school activities had begun. She said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, opened fire and prevented the students and teachers from escaping. She told the court that seven teachers and 39 students were taken into the bush, where they were moved between six different locations during their captivity. The witness described extremely difficult conditions in captivity, saying the victims were frequently exposed to rain and sunlight and sometimes had to sleep on grass. Water was reportedly so scarce that several victims had to share a single cup. She also told the court that the captives initially ate rice with salt and palm oil, but were later left with only plain rice after the supplies ran out. She said some of the younger children struggled particularly badly during mealtimes and alleged that they were beaten by their captors. The witness further stated that the victims could not properly bathe or wash their clothes during the entire 56-day period. The testimony also revealed that two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were allegedly killed during the period of captivity. The witness told the court that the kidnappers claimed the victims were being held to pressure the government to release detained members of the Ansaru group rather than primarily for ransom. The prosecution has accused the five defendants of involvement in the kidnapping and the deaths of the two teachers. The defendants, however, have pleaded not guilty to the seven charges against them. The survivor said the ordeal finally ended at the sixth camp when security forces arrived and engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle. The surviving victims were subsequently rescued after spending about eight weeks in captivity. The Federal Government has brought terrorism-related charges against five suspects in connection with the incident. The court has also approved measures to protect prosecution witnesses because of the sensitive nature of the case. The defendants have been ordered to remain in Department of State Services custody while the trial continues. The case is expected to continue with further testimony and cross-examination as the prosecution presents its evidence. The survivor’s account has brought renewed attention to the dangers faced by students and teachers in areas affected by armed attacks and kidnapping. As the trial proceeds, the court will hear evidence from both the prosecution and defence before determining the allegations against the accused persons.