The abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has made an emotional appeal from captivity to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, urging authorities to embrace dialogue rather than force in efforts to secure the release of herself and other victims still being held by gunmen.
In a distressing video circulated on Instagram on Friday by Temilolasobola, the visibly traumatised principal said the abductees had spent 13 days in the bush under harsh and inhumane conditions since they were kidnapped during attacks on schools in the area.
According to her, both children and adults among the captives have been exposed to severe weather conditions without relief.
“We are in the cold, we are under the sun, we are under the rain, the children and the adults as well. Please, we are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives,” she pleaded.
Mrs. Alamu specifically appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Christian Association of Nigeria to intervene and help facilitate negotiations with the abductors.
She warned that attempts by security operatives to secure their freedom through force had worsened their situation and placed the lives of some captives in immediate danger.
“The force that they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, someone among us has been picked and they are going to kill him because government tried to help us by force,” she said tearfully.
“We don’t need force, all they have to do is to negotiate with them and release us. Please, just negotiate with them and dialogue with them,” she added.
The latest appeal comes nearly two weeks after armed men stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting seven teachers and 39 pupils during coordinated attacks on Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yamota, and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa.
The attack sent shockwaves across Oyo State and triggered widespread outrage and anxiety among parents and residents.
During the invasion, a mathematics teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was reportedly beheaded by the attackers, while a motorcyclist conveying residents in the area was also killed.
A security operative involved in the initial rescue efforts reportedly lost his life after stepping on improvised explosive devices allegedly planted by the abductors around the area.
Security sources had earlier disclosed that the suspected terrorists later established communication with the Oyo State Government but refused to negotiate directly with the victims’ families, insisting they would only speak with the state governor.
Governor Makinde, while receiving his deputy and Muslim faithful during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration at his private residence in Ibadan, assured residents that the government was intensifying efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted children and teachers.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that the children are reunited safely with their families,” the governor said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had also announced the deployment of additional detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to support the ongoing joint rescue operation in Oyo State.
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that troops had established contact with the abductors and were sustaining coordinated operations aimed at rescuing the victims unharmed.
