The abducted Principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire local government area of Oyo State, Mrs. Folawe Alamu, has debunked reports that her captors are demanding Sharia law, ₦1 billion ransom, or weapons for the release of victims.
In a viral video posted online on day 24 of her captivity alongside other teachers and pupils, Mrs. Alamu, visibly exhausted, said the claims circulating in the media are false and are “just trying to create problems for us.”
The 56-year-old principal, who was kidnapped alongside pupils and teachers on May 15, 2026, stated that the bandits have not forced anyone to worship in an Islamic way.
According to her, “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 for the release of some people. They requested for a billion naira. They requested for Sharia to be entrenched in the country. These are not true.
“We have been here and 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. They are not asking for weapons.”
According to her, the only demand made by the kidnappers is the release of some of their members from detention.
“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people… All they want is the release of some of their people, and the government will negotiate with them and know those that they will release for them,” she stated.
The principal made an emotional appeal to Nigerians, the Federal Government, and Oyo State Government to avoid politicising the situation.
Kemi Olaoitan
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