“Oyo School Abduction: Captive Principal Urges Nigerians to Shun Politics, Denies ₦1bn Ransom and Sharia Claims”

“Oyo School Abduction: Captive Principal Urges Nigerians to Shun Politics, Denies ₦1bn Ransom and Sharia Claims”

The abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Folawe Alamu, has appealed to Nigerians and government authorities not to politicise the ongoing school abduction crisis, insisting that widely circulated reports about the kidnappers demanding a ₦1 billion ransom, weapons, or the implementation of Sharia law are inaccurate.

Speaking in a video released from captivity after more than three weeks in the kidnappers’ custody, Alamu said misinformation surrounding the case was complicating efforts to secure the freedom of the victims. According to her, the abductors have not demanded money or religious concessions but are instead seeking the release of certain individuals currently in detention.

The principal’s latest appeal comes amid growing national concern over the fate of dozens of pupils and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026. The victims were taken from Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School, also in Esiele, during a violent raid that further highlighted Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

Security experts and observers have warned that the attacks signal an alarming spread of kidnapping and armed criminal activity into Nigeria’s South-West region, an area previously considered relatively safer than parts of the North and Middle Belt. The incident has triggered protests by parents, teachers, and residents demanding urgent action from authorities to secure the safe return of those still in captivity.

The school abduction has also intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s broader security architecture as families continue to await the rescue of their loved ones. While authorities have reportedly made arrests linked to the case and pledged ongoing rescue efforts, many affected communities remain anxious as negotiations and security operations continue.

Mrs. Alamu’s message underscores the human cost of the crisis, with the principal urging the public to focus on securing the release of the captives rather than allowing competing narratives and political debates to overshadow the urgent need for their safe return.