The abducted principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has publicly contradicted widespread reports alleging that her captors demanded a N1billion ransom, the enforcement of Sharia law across Nigeria, weapons, and the release of a billionaire, insisting that such claims are false and are complicating efforts to secure the freedom of those held in captivity.
Speaking in a video recorded from captivity and circulated on social media on Monday, Mrs. Alamu expressed frustration over what she described as misinformation surrounding the motives and demands of the armed group responsible for the attack on schools in Ahoro-Esiele Community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to the principal, who revealed that she and other victims had spent 24 days in captivity, reports suggesting that the kidnappers were pursuing religious or financial objectives were inaccurate and potentially dangerous to ongoing efforts aimed at securing their release.
“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 in the video.
Mrs. Alamu explained that the abductors had shown them newspaper publications claiming that they demanded the release of a billionaire, the implementation of Sharia law, and other conditions. She firmly rejected those reports, describing them as false narratives capable of worsening the plight of the victims.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people that abducted us requested the release of some people. They requested for a billionaire. They requested for Sharia to be entrenched in the country. These are not true,” she stated.
The principal further disclosed that throughout their captivity, neither the teachers nor the students had been subjected to religious coercion or forced Islamic practices.
“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 added.
Mrs. Alamu stressed repeatedly that the kidnappers were not demanding money, weapons, or any form of religious legislation, maintaining that their sole demand was the release of some individuals currently in government custody.
“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,” she said.
In an emotional appeal, she urged Nigerians to help amplify her message and prevent political interests from interfering with efforts to rescue the captives.
“I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us. Please, we are just begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives,” she pleaded.
Calling on citizens across the country to share the video and demand transparency from authorities, Mrs. Alamu insisted that the true nature of the kidnappers’ demands should not be distorted.
“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. 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.”
She further accused authorities of allowing misinformation to spread while lives remained at risk.
“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.”
The latest video emerged weeks after armed men stormed LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, abducting pupils, students, teachers and other staff members in one of the most shocking school attacks recorded in Oyo State in recent times.
The attack reportedly claimed the life of a teacher, while Mrs. Alamu, two vice principals and three other teachers were taken away by the assailants.
In an earlier video released from captivity, the principal disclosed that the gunmen invaded the school premises around 9:30am before abducting a large number of students and staff.
Following the incident, the Oyo State Government announced that security agencies had sealed off suspected escape routes used by the kidnappers and launched coordinated operations around the National Park axis to prevent the movement of the abductors into neighbouring states.
Despite those assurances, the victims remain in captivity more than three weeks after the attack, raising growing concerns among families, community leaders and human rights advocates.
Mrs. Alamu’s latest statement has now added a new dimension to the crisis, directly challenging previous reports about the kidnappers’ intentions and intensifying calls for authorities to prioritise the safe return of the abducted teachers and students over political narratives and conflicting public claims.