Oriire School Abduction: Kidnappers Seeking Prisoner Swap, Not N1bn Ransom – Abducted Principal Says In Viral Video

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Kazeem Awojoodu

The abducted Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, has appeared in a viral video from captivity, denying reports that her abductors are demanding a N1 billion ransom, weapons, or the imposition of Sharia law in Nigeria.

In the video, which surfaced online on Monday, Mrs Alamu said she was compelled to address the public after learning that what she described as false information about the kidnappers’ demands was being circulated in sections of the media, 24 days after her abduction.

According to her, the captives were shown newspaper reports alleging that the abductors had demanded a huge ransom payment, weapons, and the establishment of Sharia law in the country.

“Everyone, please I have come to make some clarifications. 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.

Mrs Alamu maintained that the kidnappers had neither requested money nor sought religious concessions from the government.

“We have been here and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money,” she stated.

The school principal said the only demand communicated by the abductors was the release of some individuals currently in government custody.

“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people. I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us,” she said.

She appealed to Nigerians and relevant authorities not to politicise efforts aimed at securing the release of those being held captive.

“Please, we are begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us 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,” she said.

Mrs Alamu further urged the government to engage directly with the abductors to determine the identities of the individuals whose release they are demanding.

“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. I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives,” she added.

In an emotional appeal, the principal called on Nigerians to amplify her message and prevent what she described as attempts to misrepresent the kidnappers’ demands.

“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,” she said.

Mrs Alamu reiterated that, to the best of her knowledge, no other demands had been made by the abductors beyond the release of their members.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to officially respond to the claims made in the video.