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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Terrorists beat rescued Oyo pupils for asking about family, fed them only garri

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Rescued pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire, Oyo State, have recounted their ordeal after 56 days in captivity.
  • Relatives reported that the children were beaten for asking about their families and were fed only garri without sugar.
  • The abductions occurred during an attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, with security agencies coordinating the rescue operation.

A relative of one of the pupils abducted from Oriire, Oyo State, has detailed the harrowing experiences of the children during their 56-day captivity. The child, identified as Taiwo, has been recounting the abuse, including being beaten whenever he asked about his family.

When he saw you people (journalists), he started clinging to us. They really stressed them in the forest. He has been narrating it to us. He said they beat him when he remembers us.

— Relative of a rescued pupilDescribing the child's trauma and recounting the abuse suffered in captivity.

According to the relative, the captives survived on "garri without sugar" for the duration of their ordeal. The child's distress was evident upon his return, with family members describing him clinging to them and showing fear at unfamiliar faces.

When we asked him what they gave them to eat, he said that they usually gave them garri without sugar.

— Relative of a rescued pupilDetailing the poor nutrition experienced by the captives.

Another family member shared that the abductors punished the victims with beatings if they cried or asked to see their loved ones. This account follows the recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that all abducted pupils and teachers had been freed following a coordinated rescue operation.

As soon as she saw you from afar, she clung to us. She wanted to start running into the bush. She was shaking.

— Relative of a rescued pupilIllustrating the child's fear and distress after regaining freedom.

The principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, also a survivor, previously described how younger children were beaten for crying, gagged with cloth to silence them, and forced into dangerous night treks to evade security forces.

They put them through a lot of suffering. She has been recounting her experience with the abductors to us since. She said that whenever she asked for her relatives, they would beat her.

— Relative of a rescued pupilExplaining the physical punishment inflicted for expressing distress or longing for family.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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