Segun Atanda/
The principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has accused authorities of playing politics with the lives of dozens of abducted pupils and teachers, as bandits released a third video showing victims still being held nearly a month after their abduction.
In the latest footage, recorded in both English and Yoruba, Alamu appealed directly to the government to prioritise the safe return of the captives, lamenting that political considerations appeared to be overshadowing urgent efforts to secure their freedom.
The visibly distressed school principal said the captives had now spent 24 days in the hands of their abductors and urged officials to engage in meaningful dialogue rather than allow the situation to drag on.
“Please, I have come to make some clarification. Today makes it 24 days that we have been in this place,” she said in the English-language segment of the recording.
Beyond disputing reports about the kidnappers’ demands, Alamu’s strongest message was her accusation that public authorities were treating the crisis as a political issue while the victims continued to suffer in captivity.
The video is the third released by the kidnappers since gunmen stormed schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, raising fresh fears among relatives of the victims and intensifying public pressure on both state and federal authorities.
In the footage, Alamu rejected widespread claims that the abductors demanded a N1 billion ransom or sought the imposition of Sharia law across Nigeria.
According to her, the kidnappers’ principal demand was the release of detained associates rather than the conditions widely circulated on social media.
“Some press media outlets are complicating the issue by stating that the people who abducted us requested N1 billion ransom and demanded Sharia law across the country. These claims are not true,” she said.
She appealed to government officials, labour unions and community leaders to facilitate discussions that could lead to the captives’ release.
The mass abduction occurred when heavily armed gunmen attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esinle, Esiele and Yawota communities near Ogbomoso, abducting 39 pupils, some as young as two years old, and seven teachers.
During the attack, assistant headmaster Joel Adesiyan was killed while trying to protect pupils.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in captivity, an incident that sparked outrage across the country after a video emerged showing his final moments.
Governor Seyi Makinde subsequently confirmed the teacher’s death and pledged to continue rescue efforts.
The prolonged captivity of the victims has triggered widespread protests in Oyo State and prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers to direct public school teachers across the state to embark on an indefinite strike until the abductees regain their freedom.
Parents and relatives have repeatedly expressed frustration over the slow pace of rescue efforts, with many insisting that authorities explore every available option to bring the victims home safely.
The abduction has also heightened concerns about the spread of large-scale school kidnappings into south-west Nigeria, a region previously considered relatively insulated from such attacks.
President Bola Tinubu has deployed senior security officials to Oyo State and approved additional security measures, including the recruitment of forest guards and intensified rescue operations.
However, despite ongoing security efforts and reported arrests of suspected collaborators, the abducted pupils and teachers remain in captivity.
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