The Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Folawe Alamu, who was abducted during the recent mass kidnapping of students and staff in the area, has disputed reports that her captors are demanding a ₦1 billion ransom, weapons or the imposition of Sharia law as conditions for their release.
Mrs. Alamu made the claims in a video released from captivity and circulated on social media on Monday, nearly a month after she and several others were abducted during an attack on schools in the Esiele-Ahoro axis of Oriire Local Government Area.
In the video, the school principal said she felt compelled to speak after being shown media reports allegedly attributing various demands to the kidnappers.
According to her, the reports did not accurately reflect the position of the abductors.
She stated that neither a monetary ransom nor religious demands had been communicated to the victims or their families, contrary to claims circulating in some sections of the media.
Mrs. Alamu maintained that the kidnappers’ primary demand was the release of certain individuals currently in custody, adding that no other conditions had been presented.
The principal appealed to the public, government authorities and stakeholders not to politicise the situation, stressing that efforts should remain focused on securing the safe release of all those still being held.
She also urged Nigerians to help amplify her message, insisting that the narrative surrounding the kidnappers’ demands should be accurately represented.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies and the Oyo State Government had not issued an official response to the claims contained in the video.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts by security operatives to rescue the remaining victims of the school abduction, which has generated widespread concern across Oyo State and renewed debate over rising insecurity and kidnappings targeting educational institutions.
The attack, which occurred in May, involved the abduction of dozens of pupils, students and school personnel from communities in Oriire Local Government Area, prompting large-scale security operations and public calls for stronger measures to protect schools and rural communities.
Authorities have continued to maintain operational silence on certain aspects of the investigation as efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives continue.
