I heard students shouting ‘bandits, bandits’: Oriire survivor narrates dramatic capture

Gunmen stormed schools in Nigeria's Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers. The attack targeted Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. One of the abducted teachers, Olatunde Zacheus, shared his harrowing experience in an interview with Nigeria Info FM, detailing the 56 days spent in captivity.

Zacheus, who was present at Community High School to conduct tests, described the sudden arrival of the gunmen. He heard bikes and then sporadic gunfire. Students began shouting "Bandits, bandits." In the chaos, Zacheus, who had arthritis in his left leg, jumped through a window to escape. He landed awkwardly, exacerbating his injury, and was unable to walk.

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Bandits, bandits.

He managed to hide in the nearby bush, camouflaged by the green cloth he was wearing. He instructed students who had also escaped to leave him behind, believing he would not be captured. The article details the fear and confusion during the attack and the teacher's desperate attempt to evade the abductors.

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Immediately, I saw another student coming towards me.