Mrs Alamu (School Principal)
Barely 25 days after the abduction of more than 40 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, residents of Ogbomoso on Monday staged fresh protests, demanding the immediate release of the victims still being held by their captors.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. Since the incident, the pupils and their teachers have remained in captivity.
The renewed demonstration came as the abducted Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, appeared in a viral video from captivity, appealing to Nigerians to disregard reports that the kidnappers were demanding the implementation of Sharia law in exchange for their release.
Speaking in an emotional tone, Monitored by thecasternews, Mrs Alamu urged the public not to allow misinformation and politics to complicate efforts aimed at securing their freedom.
“Today makes it the 24th day that we have been here. We were shown some print media reports claiming our abductors demanded the release of certain people, one billion naira, and the implementation of Sharia law. These claims are not true,” she said.
According to her, the abductors have neither compelled the victims to adopt any form of religious practice nor made demands relating to Sharia law, weapons, or ransom payments.
“The single thing they are looking for is the release of some of their people. Nigerians, please help us circulate this message. Do not play politics with our lives,” she pleaded.
The prolonged captivity of the victims has continued to generate public outrage. The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) had earlier directed its members across Oyo State to embark on a strike action pending the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, while solidarity protests were held in several parts of the country last week.
On Monday, hundreds of protesters blocked major highways and state roads in Ogbomoso, causing traffic disruptions as they called on both the federal and state governments to intensify rescue efforts.
One of the protesters, Kehinde Dahunsi, questioned the delay in securing the release of the victims despite recent successes in rescuing other kidnap victims.
“What will it take for the federal and state governments to rescue our loved ones who have been in captivity since May 15? This is heartbreaking,” he said.
Dahunsi referenced the recent rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, who regained freedom within days of their abduction, urging authorities to demonstrate the same urgency in securing the release of the schoolchildren and their teachers.
As concerns mount over the safety and welfare of the captives, residents, labour unions, and civil society groups continue to press the government and security agencies for swift and decisive action.
