The abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Rachael Alamu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with her abductors rather than attempt a forceful rescue operation.
Alamu, alongside some staff members and students, was abducted on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Oriire, Ogbomoso.
The gunmen, who reportedly rode on motorcycles, stormed Community High School, L.A. Primary School, Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, abducting dozens of students, teachers and school officials.
During the attack, the assailants killed Adesiyan, an assistant headmaster at the community high school, and a commercial motorcyclist.
Governor Makinde had earlier disclosed that seven teachers were abducted during the raid, while one of them, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed in captivity.
A video which surfaced days after the attack allegedly showed the abductors beheading Oyedokun after tying him to a tree. The disturbing footage sparked outrage on social media and heightened concerns over the safety of the remaining victims still in captivity.
In two separate videos posted on Instagram on Friday, Alamu appealed to the federal and state governments to abandon any forceful rescue plan and engage the kidnappers in dialogue.
According to her, the abductors had threatened to kill another victim if government continued attempts to rescue them by force.
“Please, I am here again to beg the government, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde, to help us and dialogue with these people. They should not use force,” she said.
“The force they used yesterday has caused us so much pain. It has added to our problem.
“In fact, one of us has been picked, and they said they will kill him because the government tried to help us by force. We want you to call them and dialogue with them so that our lives will be saved.”
In the second clip, Alamu said the victims had been in captivity for about 13 days and were being kept in harsh conditions in the bush.
“Today is the 27th of May, 2026. It has been about 13 days since we were picked from work. And till now, we are still in the bush,” she said.
“We are begging you, President Tinubu, Governor Seyi, and all other well-meaning Nigerians to please help us. I am calling on ANCOPSS and NUT to help us talk to them.
“You don’t need force. All you have to do is negotiate with them and release us. We are in the cold, under the sun and rain.
“The children and all of us are here. Please, we are begging you. Don’t let them waste our lives. They are getting impatient and frustrated.”
As of the time of filing this report, it could not be confirmed whether the kidnappers had made fresh demands to the government.
Authorities had earlier said the abductors had opened communication with the Oyo State Government but refused to negotiate with the victims’ families, insisting that they would only speak with Governor Makinde.
The Defence Headquarters later identified the attackers as suspected JAS terrorists displaced from insurgent enclaves in the North-East.
Governor Makinde’s Special Adviser on Security, Abayomi Fagbenro, has also dismissed reports circulating on social media that the victims had been rescued, describing such claims as false.
