Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the kidnapped principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, has flatly denied reports that her captors are demanding a N1 billion ransom, the implementation of Sharia law, weapons, or the release of a detained billionaire.
In a video recorded from captivity and circulated on social media, Alamu warned that false media reports regarding the kidnappers’ demands are actively complicating rescue operations for the teachers and students still held hostage.
According to the principal, the abductors have explicitly stated only one condition for their freedom: the release of their own detained members.
“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.
Alamu clarified that reports tying the armed group to sweeping ideological or financial demands are entirely fabricated.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people requested the release of a billionaire. They requested Sharia to be entrenched in the country. These are not true,” she stated.
She further noted that the captives are not being mistreated based on religion.
“We have been here and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone. They have not troubled us concerning that,” she said. “They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money. The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people.”
Appealing directly to the Nigerian public, Alamu begged viewers to spread her message to ensure the government understands the actual terms for negotiation.
“Nigerians, please help us to 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. “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. Please, don’t play politics with our lives.”
The principal strongly accused unnamed individuals of spreading dangerous misinformation that puts the hostages at greater risk.
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“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 reiterated.
The crisis began more than three weeks ago when heavily armed men launched a morning raid on LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in the Ahoro-Esiele Community, located in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The violent assault resulted in the death of a teacher.
Alamu, alongside two vice principals, three other teachers, and a substantial number of students, were forcefully taken into the forest. In an earlier video from captivity, Alamu noted that the attackers stormed the premises at around 9:30 AM, catching the school entirely off guard.
In the wake of the mass abduction, the Oyo State Government announced that security forces had launched coordinated tracking operations, targeting major escape routes, particularly around the National Park axis, to prevent the kidnappers from moving the victims into neighboring states.
Despite these efforts, the victims remain in captivity as the 24-day standoff continues.
