Saturday May 30, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Rachael Alamu, the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with her abductors for the safe release of the victims.
Alamu, alongside some staff members and students of the school, was kidnapped on May 15 after armed men reportedly attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle/Yawota axis of Oriire in the Ogbomoso area of the state.
In two distress videos posted on Instagram on Friday, the principal pleaded with both the federal and state governments not to deploy force in rescue operations, warning that such attempts were putting their lives at greater risk.
According to her, the kidnappers had threatened to kill one of the captives following what she described as a forceful rescue attempt by security operatives.
“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 another video, Alamu said the victims had spent nearly two weeks in captivity under harsh conditions, while appealing to Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to intervene urgently.
“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 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.”
The abduction has further heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly attacks targeting schools, students, and rural communities.
*TheGuardian
Saturday May 30, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The principal of Community High School, Esiele in Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with the gunmen holding abducted teachers and pupils, warning that the captives’ lives are now at greater risk following an alleged failed rescue operation.
In a viral video recorded from captivity, Mrs. Alamu said the use of force by security operatives had escalated the situation, claiming one of the abductees had been selected for execution.
“Please I am here again to beg the government. President Tinubu and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde to please help us and dialogue with this people,” Mrs. Alamu pleaded.
“They should not use force. The force they have used yesterday has caused us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been picked that they are going to kill him because 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 another video, the principal, speaking in Yoruba, appealed emotionally for intervention.
“Please, help us. We beg you in the name of God, please have mercy on us. This is too much. In the sun and in the rain. Both old and young, we are in the same place.
“Today marks the 13th day since we were kidnapped. We don’t want you to fight them at all. Whatever they ask for, please, give to them.”
One of the abducted teachers, Mary Akanbi, who is nursing a baby, also appealed to the authorities for negotiations with the kidnappers.
“We are pleading with Governor Seyi Makinde, please help us, negotiate with these people. Whatever they want, please give to them. We are all here; we the teachers and the students,” she said.
Mrs. Alamu was among several teachers, pupils and residents abducted after heavily armed gunmen attacked schools and nearby communities in Esiele and Yawota areas of Oriire Local Government Area on Friday.
The attackers reportedly invaded LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, firing sporadically and throwing residents and schoolchildren into panic.
The incident allegedly claimed the life of at least one teacher, while Mrs. Alamu, two vice principals and three other teachers were abducted alongside several pupils.
In an earlier video from captivity, Mrs. Alamu had appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Nigerians to intervene.
“I am making this video to ask for help from everyone, starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all well-meaning Nigerians, that they should come to our help and settle these things peacefully, so that our lives will not be lost,” she had said.
The latest video surfaced amid reports that security agencies had intensified operations around forest areas suspected to be the kidnappers’ hideouts.
The Oyo State Government had earlier announced that security operatives sealed off escape routes linked to the abductors around the National Park axis.
Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed that joint rescue efforts involving the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun operatives and local hunters were ongoing.
According to the government, intelligence indicated that the gunmen were still operating within forest corridors around Oyo State.
Meanwhile, parents and residents of the affected communities have continued to call for urgent intervention to secure the release of the abducted victims.
One of the parents, Mrs. Aduke Balogun, recounted how the attackers, dressed in military uniforms, stormed the area and abducted her daughter, Kehinde Kaosara.
“In Esiele, we are begging you. Our children went to school. It was after 9am when we truly saw the kidnappers. They wore Army uniforms,” she said.
“Before we understood what was going on, they started shooting and all of us ran away. I later saw my daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, among the abducted children.
“We are begging the government to bring back our children alive.”
Residents also alleged that the gunmen forced Mrs. Alamu to drive the abducted pupils into a forest reserve using her Toyota Corolla before the vehicle was later set ablaze.
Chairman of the Esiele community, Amusa Wakilu, confirmed that the burnt vehicle was discovered near one of the forest entrances.
A local farmer, Micheal Ojo, whose relatives and children were among the abducted victims, also narrated how the attackers allegedly compelled the principal to transport the children deeper into the bush after killing a teacher during the invasion.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants wore military camouflage and attacked the communities while many residents were away on their farms.
Apart from the abducted victims, a commercial motorcyclist and an assistant headmaster identified as Joel Adesiyan were reportedly killed during the attacks, while several motorcycles were stolen by the fleeing gunmen.
The incident has further heightened concerns over rising insecurity in parts of Oyo State, especially communities located near forest reserves increasingly associated with kidnapping and armed criminal activities.
*SAHARA REPORTERS