Negotiate with kidnappers, abducted Oyo principal begs Tinubu, Makinde + Video

The abducted principal of Community High School, Esinele, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has released another heartbreaking video appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to pursue dialogue over force to secure the release of herself and other abductees still held by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In the footage circulating on Friday, a visibly distressed Mrs Alamu said she and other victims, including children, had been in the bush for 13 days since the attack, exposed to harsh weather conditions.

“We are in the cold, we are under the sun, we are under the rain, the children and the adults as well. Please, we are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives,” she said.

She specifically called on the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Christian Association of Nigeria to intervene, warning that any attempt to use force could cost lives.

“The force that they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problems.

“In fact, someone among us has been picked and they are going to kill him because government tried to help us by force,” she said.

“We don’t need force, all they have to do is to negotiate with them and release us. Please, just negotiate with them and dialogue with them,” she added.

The appeal comes nearly two weeks after gunmen attacked three schools, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yamota, and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa, abducting seven teachers and 39 students on May 15, 2026.

During the attack, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was beheaded by the gunmen, a motorcyclist was killed, and a security personnel died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts.

Suspected terrorists subsequently opened communication channels with the state government, with sources revealing that the abductors refused to speak directly with the families of the victims, insisting they would only negotiate with the governor.