The abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has debunked reports that their captors demanded a N1 billion ransom, weapons, or the implementation of Sharia law as conditions for their release.
Alamu, who has spent more than three weeks in captivity alongside students and other school workers abducted during a deadly attack on schools in the area, clarified in a fresh video released by the kidnappers on Monday.
In the video, the visibly distressed principal appealed to Nigerians and government authorities not to politicise the situation, insisting that several reports circulating in the media do not reflect the reality of discussions with their abductors.
“Please, I have come to make some clarification,” Alamu said in the footage.
According to her, the abductors showed the captives newspaper reports claiming they had demanded billions of naira, weapons and the imposition of Sharia law in Nigeria.
She, however, described the reports as false and capable of complicating efforts to secure their freedom.
“Today makes it 24 days that we have been in captivity, and it seems some people are making our problem more complicated,” she said.
The principal maintained that the kidnappers had neither demanded money nor sought the implementation of any religious system.
Rather, she said the only demand communicated by the armed group was the release of some of their detained members.
“They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money. They are not asking for weapons. The only thing they want is the release of some of their people,” she stated.
Alamu urged Nigerians to help spread the message, warning against what she described as misinformation surrounding the abduction.
She also appealed directly to government officials to focus on negotiations capable of securing the safe release of the victims rather than allowing politics to influence the process.
The latest video marks another desperate appeal from the principal since she and dozens of pupils and school staff were abducted during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area in May.
The abduction shocked residents and triggered nationwide concern, with families of the victims repeatedly pleading with authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release.
Earlier videos released from captivity showed Alamu and other victims begging the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to explore dialogue as part of efforts to end the crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor security agencies had officially responded to the claims contained in the latest video.
See the video on our Telegram Channel. Find the link here.
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