RACHAEL Alamu, the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has dismissed claims that the gunmen holding her, schoolchildren and teachers captive are demanding N1 billion or the implementation of Sharia law as conditions for their release.
In a new video obtained by News Point Nigeria released late on Monday, Alamu said the abductors have made only one demand since the victims were taken hostage, the release of some of their gang members currently in custody.
The principal accused those spreading reports that the kidnappers are demanding money, weapons or the enforcement of Sharia law of worsening the situation and complicating efforts to secure the victims’ freedom.
According to her, neither she nor the other captives have been forced to practice Islam or worship in any particular way since they were abducted.
“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 already making our problem more complicated,” she said in the video.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people who abducted us requested the release of some people, they requested one billion naira, and they requested for Sharia to be entrenched in the country; these are not true. They are just trying to create problems for us.
“We have been here, and since then, we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone; they have not troubled us concerning that. The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people.”
Appealing directly to Nigerians, Alamu urged citizens to help amplify her message and ensure that what she described as misinformation does not overshadow the realities of their situation.
“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, money, and weapons. All they want is the release of some of their people,” she said.
The principal and other victims were abducted on May 15 when suspected bandits attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, kidnapping about 39 students and seven teachers.
The incident triggered widespread condemnation across the country and prompted a two-day nationwide protest by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and other stakeholders demanding urgent action to secure the release of the victims.
Amid growing public concern, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on June 3 rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with the kidnappers.
During plenary, the Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, cautioned against entering into negotiations that could strengthen criminal groups and encourage future attacks.
“If it were up to you, would you negotiate with terrorists? If they asked for weapons, money, or concessions of future laws of this land as part of their ransom, if you were the governor, would you accept that? Would you accept those people to be integrated into that community?” the speaker asked.
“We don’t know the details. So, please, let’s be sensitive and calm. You do not know the details. The more you negotiate with these people, the more you embolden them.”
However, Ogundoyin’s comments subsequently sparked a wave of misinformation on social media, with some users interpreting the remarks as confirmation that the kidnappers had demanded money, weapons or the implementation of Sharia law.
Alamu’s latest video appears aimed at correcting those claims and clarifying that, according to the captives’ understanding, the abductors’ only stated demand is the release of some of their detained members.