Kidnapped Oyo Principal Speaks From Captivity: ‘They’re Not Asking For N1bn, Sharia Or Guns’
…Says Abductors Want Government To Free Detained Members
By Kazeem Awojoodu, Ibadan
IBADAN – A dramatic twist has emerged in the 24-day-old abduction of the Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, after she surfaced in a viral video from captivity, dismissing reports that her abductors are demanding a N1 billion ransom, weapons, or the imposition of Sharia law in Nigeria.
In the emotional video circulating on social media, the visibly distressed principal appealed to Nigerians to help spread what she described as the “true position” of the kidnappers’ demands, insisting that false reports were complicating efforts to secure their release.
According to Mrs Alamu, the captives were shown newspaper publications claiming that the abductors had demanded huge sums of money, firearms and religious concessions from the government.
“Everyone, please I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 24th day that we have been in this place and it seems that some people are making our problems complicated already,” she said.
She flatly denied claims that the kidnappers were pursuing any religious agenda or demanding ransom.
“We have been here and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money,” she stated.
The abducted principal disclosed that the only demand repeatedly made by the kidnappers was the release of some individuals currently being held by the government.
“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people. I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us,” she said.
In a passionate appeal, Mrs Alamu begged Nigerians and government authorities not to politicise the rescue efforts.
“Please, we are begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us circulate this. Let it go viral. They are not asking for Sharia law. It is not true. They are not asking for weapons. They are not asking for money,” she pleaded.
She urged the authorities to open direct communication with the abductors to determine the identities of the individuals whose release they are demanding.
“All they want is the release of some people, and the government will negotiate with them and know those that they will release for them. I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives,” she added.
Fighting back tears, the school principal made a final appeal to Nigerians to amplify her message and prevent what she described as misinformation about the kidnappers’ demands.
“Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Help us make this go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world. They are not asking for Sharia. They are not asking for money. They are not asking for weapons. All they want is the release of some of their people,” she said.
Mrs Alamu maintained that, to the best of her knowledge, the abductors had made no other demands beyond the release of their detained members.
As of press time, neither the Oyo State Government nor security agencies had officially responded to the claims made in the viral video, further fuelling public concern over the fate of the victims still being held in captivity.
