Oyo abduction: Kidnapped principal denies bandits’ sharia demand

Barely 25 days after the abduction of over 40 pupils alongside their teachers at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, residents of Ogbomoso, on Monday, again trooped out in large numbers to demand the release of those in captivity.

This is as the abducted Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs Rachael Alamu, in an emotion-laden voice in another viral video on Monday, begged Nigerians not to allow the government to deceive the world that bandits requested Sharia Law to be enshrined in the country for their release.

The coordinated abduction had taken place on Friday, May 15, 2026, around 9:30 a.m, while those whisked away had remained in captivity since then.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers ordered members across the state to commence a strike until the rescue of the kidnapped victims, while protests were held across the country last week.

On Monday, residents of Ogbomoso, in their hundreds, blocked both the major highways and state roads, causing artificial gridlock in the affected routes.

One of the protesters, Kehinde Dahunsi, said, “What will it take for both the government at the centre and the state government to rescue our beloved ones since May 15. This is so pathetic.

“The former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu’s biological sister and her twin children (Peter and Paul), as heard on radio, television stations, and read in the pages of newspapers, were kidnapped early hours on Wednesday, June 3, and were rescued on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Just three days interval.

“But our people have been in captivity for 25 days now. Why shouldn’t governments also apply the same mechanism used to rescue the ex-minister’s sister and her two sons to rescue our family members?” he lamented.

In the now-viral video, Alamu, in a distress call from the kidnappers’ hideout, begged Nigerians to circulate the video and not play politics with their lives.

She said in the video, “Good day, 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.

“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people that abducted us requested the release of some people. They requested a billion naira; they requested that Sharia be enshrined in the country. These are not true. They are just trying to create a problem for us.

“We have been here since, we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law; they are not asking for money.

“The single thing they are looking 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.

“Please, we are begging you, please, don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please, help us to circulate this, let it go viral.

“They are not asking for Sharia law. It’s not true. They are not asking for weapons; they are not asking for money. All they want is the release of some people, and the government should negotiate with them and know those whom they will release for them.

“I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives. Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Please, help us make it go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world.”