The abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Alamu Folawe, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with her captors instead of deploying force for their rescue.
In a video shared on Instagram on Friday, the visibly distressed principal said she and other abductees, including schoolchildren, had spent 13 days in captivity under harsh conditions in the bush.
“We are in the cold, we are under the sun, we are under the rain, the children and the adults as well. Please, we are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives,” she said.
Mrs Alamu specifically appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Christian Association of Nigeria to intervene, warning that recent security operations had worsened their situation.
“The force that they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, someone among us has been picked and they are going to kill him because government tried to help us by force,” she said.
“We don’t need force. All they have to do is negotiate with them and release us. Please, just negotiate with them and dialogue with them.”
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, after gunmen attacked three schools in the area — Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yamota; and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa.
The attack reportedly led to the abduction of seven teachers and 39 students.
During the incident, a mathematics teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was beheaded, while a motorcyclist and a security operative were also killed during rescue efforts after encountering improvised explosive devices allegedly planted by the abductors.
Sources said the kidnappers later opened communication channels with the Oyo State Government but declined to negotiate directly with families of the victims, insisting on speaking only with Governor Makinde.
Governor Makinde had earlier assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the abducted victims.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also ordered the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to support ongoing rescue operations alongside other security agencies.
