Olatunde Zacheus, a survivor of the Orire school kidnapping, has claimed that the armed group responsible for the attack identified itself as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), not Boko Haram or bandits.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard published on July 19, 2026, Zacheus said he and other victims were held captive for 56 days. According to him, the group’s leader disclosed their identity shortly before their release, saying, “They claimed they were not affiliated with Boko Haram or bandits. Their group called itself ISWAP.”
Zacheus recalled that the attack occurred on May 15 while students were writing examinations at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School. He said armed men invaded the schools, prompting students to flee after hearing gunfire and warnings that bandits had entered the premises.
He added that although the kidnappers were not Yoruba, they spoke Hausa, English, and Yoruba. Suffering from arthritis and a leg injury, he said he was unable to escape despite hiding in nearby grass and was eventually captured after another student unknowingly revealed his location.
Zacheus said the victims were later released after being led through the forest to a village where security personnel received them. He described their freedom as miraculous and recalled helping children and other victims cross two rivers on their journey to safety, while urging continued support for those still affected by the incident.
