The kidnappers holding the principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, have reportedly refused to negotiate with her family and are insisting on dealing directly with government authorities.
The victim’s husband, Professor Wole Alamu, a lecturer at the Department of Forest Resources Management, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, disclosed this while speaking on the condition of his wife’s continued captivity more than two weeks after her abduction.
According to him, the abductors have maintained contact only through WhatsApp messages, but have consistently rejected any attempt by the family to engage them directly for negotiations or ransom discussions.
“The captors said they don’t want to talk to us. They only want to talk to the government, and that is why we are helpless. Anytime they want to communicate, they send messages to me through WhatsApp,” he said.
Mrs. Alamu was abducted on May 15 during a violent attack on the school in Oriire Local Government Area. The attack reportedly left some teachers dead while several students and staff members were taken away by the gunmen.
Professor Alamu recounted that he had left home with his wife on the morning of the incident, both heading to their respective duty posts, when he later received a distress call around 9:20 a.m. informing him of the attack.
“Each time I go to Iseyin, my wife goes to Esele as principal of the school. That morning, after we both left home, I received a call around 9:20 a.m. informing me that she had been kidnapped.
“I rushed back and discovered that some teachers had been killed while many students and teachers were abducted. The Toyota Corolla she used for transportation was also burnt,” he said.
He further explained that the family has not had direct communication with Mrs. Alamu since the incident, except for videos allegedly forced out by her captors.
“Since May 15, we have not heard from her apart from the videos she was forced to produce by the captors,” he added.
The professor also acknowledged the efforts of the Oyo State Government in responding to the situation, noting that officials have been supportive since the incident occurred.
“We thank the Executive Governor of Oyo State for standing by us. He has not abandoned us in this difficult period,” he stated.
He disclosed that all WhatsApp numbers used by the abductors have been handed over to security agencies for investigation, including the Department of State Services, which he believes are actively tracking the communications.
“I believe the DSS are working on it,” he said.
Professor Alamu described his wife as a committed educationist who had dedicated herself to the development of the rural community despite the risks and long-distance daily commute of about 62 kilometres from her residence to the school since her deployment in August 2024.
He questioned the motive behind the attack, insisting that she had no personal conflict with anyone in the area.
“My wife did not offend anyone. She only came to contribute to the development of the area,” he said.
